Authorities have revealed the unsettling discovery of at least 115 bodies at a Colorado “green” funeral home that is now under investigation for alleged mishandling of remains.
Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper disclosed that a collaborative effort with various agencies is underway to ascertain if any unlawful practices have occurred.
The Return to Nature funeral home, located in Penrose, Colorado, has been known for conducting “green” burials, which eschew embalming chemicals and metal caskets.
The investigation was centered on a property owned by the funeral home after local residents reported detecting a foul odor, prompting law enforcement intervention.
Deputies were summoned to the site on Tuesday evening, and sheriff’s investigators returned the subsequent day with a search warrant, revealing the improper storage of human remains.
At a press conference held on Friday, authorities asserted that there is currently no perceivable health risk to the general public.
Penrose, nestled in the Colorado mountains, is home to approximately 3,000 residents.
Evidence of the ongoing investigation was apparent on Thursday, with trash bags situated outside the company’s facility and a secured perimeter surrounding the building, which emitted a noxious scent.
A hearse was conspicuously parked at the rear of the premises, situated in a parking lot overgrown with weeds. In accordance with Colorado law, green burials are permissible, but the state mandates that any body not interred within 24 hours must be adequately refrigerated.
Joyce Pavetti, 73, who resides in proximity to the funeral home, observed intermittent odorous emissions over the past few weeks.
“We just assumed it was a dead animal,” Pavetti remarked. However, on Wednesday evening, she noticed law enforcement activity around the building, signaling a more substantial issue. Neighbor Ron Alexander speculated that the stench was originating from a septic tank.
The Return to Nature Funeral Home specializes in the interment of non-embalmed bodies in biodegradable caskets, shrouds, or even without a casket, as indicated on its website. The establishment also offers cremation services. Attempts to contact the Colorado Springs-based company for comment were unsuccessful.
“Embalming fluids are eschewed, and concrete vaults are omitted. As natural as possible,” the website asserts. The company’s pricing starts at $1,895 for a “natural burial.”
Return to Nature was founded six years ago in Colorado Springs and is registered under Hallfordhomes LLC, according to public records.
A “green burial” involves the interment of non-embalmed bodies, distinguishing it from human composting, where the body is placed in a vessel and converted into soil.
By AP
