Police officers discovered 31 decomposing bodies locked inside an Indiana funeral home in the wake of multiple complaints from neighbors of an overwhelming and entirely sickening stench.
On Friday evening, the horrific discovery inside of the Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center had quite a few families reeling and horrified after authorities scrambled to gather up the remains of their loved ones. The bodies are currently still in possession of the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
“We arrived at the scene, of course our officers did smell a strong odor that was consistent with a decomposing body,” stated Maj. Isaac Park, of the Jeffersonville Police force, to WHAS News. “If you walked inside the business itself, you’d understand this is abnormal for any funeral home.”
Jeffersonville Police along with the fire department are investigating conditions at the Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center. No details as of now but will update here 👇🏼 @WHAS11 pic.twitter.com/AEu7nUdF3u
— Ford Sanders KVUE (@fordsandersTV) July 2, 2022
Throughout the southern Indiana funeral parlor, Police found a total of 31 bodies, “some of which were in the advanced stages of decomposition,” along with the post-cremation remains of an additional 16 people. The bodies were stated to be in various stages of decomposition with some quite far along.
Over this past weekend, quite a few different local and state agencies sparked investigations into the conditions of the funeral home, even as families were heartbroken to learn just how their loved ones’ remains were being treated.
“I couldn’t sleep last night not known what happened to his body,” Tara Ownes stated about her deceased brother, Mike, whose remains had been slated to be cremated back in April. “Has he been cremated? Is he not? What’s going on? If I do get cremated remains, how do I know that they’re him? It’s just really sad.”
Parker stated that the owners of the funeral home have been cooperating with police forces, but he refused to state anything else. No charges have been officially filed as of writing. Late Friday evening, a climate-controlled truck was spotted just outside the funeral home, and workers were carrying remains into the back of it.
Quite a few of the bodies had been kept in storage at the funeral home since as far back as March, claimed Parker.
“We understand that this is going to be a situation where we’re really going to need the assistance of these families,” Parker claimed. “I’m sorry that they’ve already suffered a loss and now they’re dealing with this situation. We ask anybody that has information to please reach out to us.”
Jeffersonville is located just outside Louisville, Kentucky.
The office of the coroner has stated that if you have previously entrusted the care of one of your loved ones to Lankford Funeral Home, please contact them at (812) 285-6535.