Maryland Restaurant Remained Opened After Woman's Dead Body Was Discovered In Bathroom

A restaurant in Maryland is facing backlash for remaining open after a women's dead body was discovered in the bathroom.

The Prince George's County Police Department was contacted around 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday about an unconscious woman at the Jasper's Restaurant in Largo, about 15 miles east of Washington D.C.

First responders attempted life-saving measures but later told Jasper's Restaurant owner, Fred Rosenthal, the woman was dead.

Police said there was no foul play. Police have not released the cause of death or identity of the woman. Rosenthal said health officials told him she died from cardiac arrest.

After learning the woman was deceased in the bathroom, the restaurant continued to seat customers as they waited for her body to be removed.

"We closed off the area and created a unisex bathroom for the men's room anticipating that the coroner's office would be there shortly rather than creating any type of panic or telling people there was a problem in the restaurant," said Rosenthal.

Many criticized the decision after a customer posted her dissatisfaction on Twitter.

"We had a lot of people in the restaurant, and we don't want to create curiosity or a panic or anything telling the people there was a problem here, and it turns out we found out was only one corner on duty, and it took almost two hours for the corner to get there," Rosenthal said.

On Thursday, Rosenthal offered condolences to the dead woman's family.

"Hindsight being 2020, if we knew that it was going take over two hours we may have handled it somewhat differently, but I thought at the time, we handle in a way that is respectful to our family and everybody involved," he said.