State inspectors in Colorado made a disturbing discovery at Davis Mortuary in Pueblo: approximately 20 decomposing bodies hidden behind a concealed door in the funeral home owned by the local coroner, Brian Cotter.
This unsettling finding emerged during an inspection prompted by new regulations aimed at enhancing oversight in the state’s funeral industry.
Authorities revealed that Cotter may have even provided fake ashes to families who sought cremation services, raising serious ethical concerns about his practices.
Inspectors were alerted to a strong odor indicating decomposition while examining the establishment, less than 110 miles south of Denver. Prior to their entry, Cotter had attempted to prevent them from accessing the room where the bodies were stored behind a cardboard display.
The inspection on Wednesday was the first of its kind under new laws adopted last year, prompted by a series of abuses in Colorado’s funeral sector.
Previously, the state had some of the weakest oversight of funeral homes in the United States, devoid of regular inspections or requisite qualifications for operators.
This lack of accountability significantly contributed to numerous violations, including a separate case involving nearly 200 decomposing bodies discovered in another facility in Penrose, Colorado, located roughly 30 miles from Pueblo. A sentencing hearing for one of the owners of that funeral home is scheduled for Friday, thus exposing a troubling pattern.
The recent discovery at Davis Mortuary revealed an astonishing claim made by Cotter to inspectors: some bodies had remained uncremated for up to 15 years. This revelation prompted regulators to suspend the mortuary’s registration, marking a significant violation of the trust families place in funeral homes during their time of grief.
As noted by Armando Saldate III, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, this situation constitutes a “profound violation of trust” and represents a heartbreaking betrayal toward families who entrusted their loved ones to Cotter’s care.
The estimate of 20 bodies currently remains unverified; while funeral home staff provided this figure, the corpses have yet to be officially counted or removed. Investigators, along with state troopers trained in hazardous material response, are handling the situation with the utmost respect and humanity.
Though Cotter has not been arrested as of yet, Pueblo County District Attorney Kala Beauvais confirmed that no charges have been filed pending the ongoing investigation.
When reached for comment, a woman at the mortuary declined to provide further details and did not make Cotter available for an interview. Additionally, Cotter has not responded to inquiries left with the county coroner’s office.
Davis Mortuary was established by Cotter and his brother, Chris, who purchased the business in 1989. Their website claims they have cultivated an “old school” approach to funeral service, a philosophy they attribute to their father’s legacy of operating funeral homes in various states, including Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska.
While many states conduct regular inspections of funeral homes, Colorado’s oversight was historically inadequate.
This highlights a pressing need for accountability in an industry that handles vulnerable families in times of loss. Just last year, arrests were made of a different funeral home’s owners in Grand Junction, Colorado, after they were convicted of selling human remains and providing clients with fake ashes.
In another shocking incident, a woman’s body was discovered left in the back of a hearse for over a year by a suburban Denver funeral home, where more than 30 sets of cremated remains were found hidden throughout the funeral director’s residence.
In response to the growing concerns around funeral home practices, Colorado lawmakers have recently approved significant changes to state laws governing the industry. These updates include the implementation of routine inspections, increased regulatory powers, and a requirement that funeral directors and staff undergo rigorous licensing processes, including background checks and national examinations.
Until these new regulations were passed, Colorado’s funeral directors did not need to have completed even high school to handle such a sensitive vocation, underscoring the pressing need for reform in the industry.
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