A 72-year-old grandfather from Los Angeles tragically lost his life after being boiled alive in a Marriott hotel shower while visiting San José, California, for his granddaughter’s graduation.
According to the Daily Mail, Terril Johnson, a Marine veteran and devoted husband of 54 years, checked into the Fairfield by Marriott Inn and Suites on May 22. After a grueling six-hour drive, he decided to unwind with a shower — but what should’ve been a moment of relaxation turned into a nightmare.
Reports say the shower’s water temperature reached nearly 135 degrees Fahrenheit, exceeding California’s legal limit by 15 degrees. Johnson’s grandson, Deshun, discovered him lying partially submerged in the tub with the scalding water still running. The heat was so intense that his family couldn’t safely pull him out — they could only watch in horror as his skin peeled away from his body.
A medical examiner confirmed that Johnson suffered severe third-degree burns to his neck, torso, and other areas, covering roughly 30 percent of his body.
Johnson’s family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Marriott, accusing the hotel of gross negligence and claiming the tragedy could have been prevented if proper safety measures were in place.
“This wasn’t a freak accident,” the family said through their attorney. “This was a failure to protect guests from a known danger.”
They described Terril as a fun-loving, gentle man who deeply cherished his family — especially his granddaughters, Trinity and Heaven.
“Our hearts are shattered,” a family member shared. “He survived war as a Marine, but lost his life in a hotel shower.”
The Johnson family says they continue to suffer from nightmares and post-traumatic stress, haunted by the memory of that horrific night.
As the lawsuit moves forward, many are calling for stricter safety regulations in hotels to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
