11 deceased bodies, including the bodies of infants, were left to rot in a funeral home in California, local officials have said.
The remains were “found in various stages of decay and mummification on two separate occasions over the past year”, a statement by the Los Angeles City Attorney, Mike Feuer, said.
The funeral home, owned by Mark Allen, was based in the Sun Valley neighbourhood of Los Angeles and has since closed down.
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Allen is now facing 22 criminal charges and for each of the 11 bodies, he is “charged with violating California Health and Safety Code sections”, according to Feuer’s statement. He is looking at a maximum sentence of 11 years and $10,000 per body in fines.
Authorities discovered the body after they had received several complaints from family members of the deceased.
The bodies were found in a storage unit in April 2021, the New York Post reported.
Officials observed a “swarm of flies buzzing around” the unit’s exhaust vent, and noted a “foul and overwhelmingly strong” smell of decay, a petition to shut down the funeral home filed by the state Cemetary and Funeral Bureau said.
City Attorney Mike Feuer discusses this shocking case. We've filed 22 criminal charges against this Sun Valley funeral director. pic.twitter.com/88Q1TEUtAp
— The Office of Mike Feuer, L.A. City Attorney (@CityAttorneyLA)
Feuer’s statement said: “We’re fighting to get justice for these families in this incredibly sad and shocking situation.
"11 people died, including very young children, and the funeral director hired to compassionately prepare the bodies for burial allegedly just let them rot, with neither the decency nor the dignity that all our loved ones deserve.
“Their deaths are one tragedy, and this alleged monstrous mistreatment is a second tragedy."
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