Family told by Authorities that Relative was Found Dead, Finds Out that She’s Alive

In a bizarre and emotional turn of events, a New York woman believed to have died from a drug overdose was discovered alive in another state, months after her family mourned her, held a memorial service, and even mixed her supposed ashes with those of their late mother. Shanice Crews, 31, had been declared dead in early 2024, with her family notified by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office that she had overdosed on cocaine in February. Authorities told her loved ones that her remains were cremated and returned to the family. In a tribute to both Crews and their family matriarch, the ashes were mixed and placed into memorial jewelry. But months later, the family was shocked to learn the unthinkable: Shanice Crews was not dead at all.

A Text Message Changes Everything

Shanice’s sister, Shanita Hopkins, spoke with WROC, a CBS affiliate in Rochester, about the family’s journey through grief—and then disbelief. After believing for months that her sister had died, Hopkins received an unexpected text message from an unknown woman. Attached was a photo of someone Hopkins immediately recognized. “Ma’am, I’m concerned your sister is not dead. She just volunteered at my event today,” the message read. Hopkins was stunned. She identified the woman in the photo as her sister Shanice and immediately contacted police. Authorities, however, initially stood by the original identification, claiming the deceased woman’s dental records matched Crews. Still, Hopkins wasn’t convinced and pushed for further testing.

DNA Reveals the Truth

To confirm the identity of the cremated remains, the medical examiner’s office requested DNA samples from Crews’ young son and her youngest sister, both of whom share the same biological parents as Shanice. When the DNA results came back, they confirmed what Hopkins had feared: the remains did not belong to Shanice Crews. “We dealt with the ashes and stuff. We put them in necklaces, and we mixed my mom with this stranger,” Hopkins told WROC, describing the heartbreak and confusion. Following the revelation, the medical examiner’s office reclaimed the ashes, though they declined to comment further on the misidentification.

A Sister’s Message of Love and Pain

Despite the shocking news that Shanice is alive, her family has not been able to contact her directly. The last confirmed sighting of her was in Michigan, where she had reportedly been living and volunteering. Hopkins shared an emotional message for her sister: “I love her. I’ve been angry… I’m still angry. I don’t think I’m ever going to get over the anger. But I know how it feels to think that she was dead… Whatever we had going on, it doesn’t even matter. I love her. That’s it.” While the mystery of where Shanice Crews has been remains unsolved, one thing is clear—her family, though heartbroken, still holds hope for a reunion.