Louisville Funeral Director Charged with Improperly Storing Body
Posted by
Laura BlattJune 06, 2007 9:33 PMFormer Louisville funeral director Nathaniel Anderson has his troubles. Although his license was suspended in 2006, he was arrested last February for storing a corpse without refrigeration at his business, Anderson Funeral Services. A customer identified the deceased as her mother, and said that the body was supposed to have been cremated, according to Channel 32 News, WLKY, in Louisville.
Anderson Funeral Services has been shut down, and Mr. Anderson appeared in court recently on charges of fraud and abusing a corpse. New charges may be brought against him concerning other burials that he may have failed to perform and for allegedly making misrepresentations about pre-paid funerals. He has another court date set for July.
How Widespread Are Funeral Abuses?
Although the majority of funeral homes attempt to offer compassionate help and service, we have been hearing too much lately about funeral home abuses. In Northern California, a mortician's license was suspended for improperly storing bodies without refrigeration. In Washington, DC, six funeral homes did not have proper licenses, including one that failed to store bodies properly. And in New York, three funeral homes were involved in selling body parts from corpses without the consent of families. Other cases concern mishandling of human remains, losing the remains and mixing the ashes of several bodies during cremation.
Given the potential for funeral home abuse, consumers are advised to check the credentials and background of any funeral home before signing a contract. Also, consider it a warning sign if the funeral director and staff do not promptly answer questions to your satisfaction.