September, Friday 20, 2024

More than 115 corpses found stored in inadequate conditions at environmentally friendly funeral home


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Authorities in Colorado have discovered over 115 bodies that were stored improperly at a funeral home specializing in green burials. The investigation began after authorities received complaints about a foul smell emanating from The Return to Nature Funeral Home. The FBI is currently unsure if any criminal activity has taken place, and the funeral home owners have been cooperating with the investigation. It may take several months to identify the remains. During a recent press conference, officials stated that the bodies, found in an area exceeding 2,500 sq ft, were stored in a hazardous manner. The Return to Nature Funeral Home, located in Penrose, Colorado, specializes in eco-friendly burials without the use of embalming fluids and the utilization of biodegradable caskets. The Fremont County Sheriff's Office has received assistance from the FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Sheriff Allen Cooper described the air inside the funeral home as horrific. In response to the incident, Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a local disaster emergency declaration, enabling state resources to aid investigators. The funeral home's website states that they ceased offering cremation services in July 2023. Sheriff Cooper emphasized that their main focus is on supporting the affected families. The forensic identification process, which includes obtaining fingerprints and DNA, will likely lengthen the investigation, according to Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller. Additional investigators, including a technical hazardous response team and a disaster recovery team, are being dispatched from Quantico, Virginia by the FBI. These teams have extensive experience handling large-scale incidents such as 9/11 and major airline emergencies. Families will be informed once the bodies have been positively identified, and the county has requested that family members who have utilized The Return to Nature Funeral Home contact them via email. A family crisis center and helpline are also available.