In a revealing autobiography titled From Here to the Great Unknown, Lisa Marie Presley shared a heartbreaking story about her son Benjamin Keough, who passed away at the age of 27 in 2020. The decision to keep his body at home instead of sending it to the morgue reveals the deep connection between mother and son, as well as the need to say goodbye in a meaningful way.
In the book, written by her daughter Riley Keough, it is narrated that, after Benjamin's death, Lisa Marie was given the option to care for the body at home. "We were told that if we could take care of the body, we could have it at home, so she kept it at our house for a while on dry ice," Keough wrote. This decision, although unusual, allowed Lisa Marie to say goodbye to her son in an intimate way, similar to what she had done with her father, Elvis Presley, years before.
Lisa Marie Presley kept her son's body at home for two months on dry ice.
Riley recounted that her mother considered it essential to have enough time to process her grief. "For my mother, it was very important to have enough time to say goodbye to him. And I would go and sit there with him," she confessed. This experience was an act of love and connection, reflecting the strong bond that Lisa Marie and Benjamin shared.
The Presley's house had a separate "little cottage-style bedroom" where the body of her son, whom she affectionately called "Ben Ben", remained. California law does not require bodies to be buried immediately, allowing Lisa Marie to make this choice. In the book, she explains that she found a compassionate funeral home owner who helped her through this difficult process.
This touching story highlights the deep pain of loss and the importance of finding meaningful ways to say goodbye to those we love. Benjamin Keough’s life and his bond with Lisa Marie will continue to be remembered with love and sadness.