“Cremated Remains Found After Homeowner Evicted Miles Harford | Denver Police Investigate Funeral Home Owner for Keeping Deceased Bodies”

– Colorado funeral home director woman’s body
– Colorado funeral home director remains.

Accident – Death – Obituary News : An arrest warrant has been issued for the proprietor of a funeral home in Colorado, who stands accused of retaining the ashes of at least 30 individuals in a rented property, as well as keeping the body of a deceased woman in a hearse for two years. The Denver Police Department is currently investigating Miles Harford, the former owner of Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services in Littleton, Colorado.

During their investigation, the police discovered the cremated remains in a home rented by Harford. Furthermore, they suspect that Harford provided some families with the wrong remains. In a press conference on Friday, Denver Police Commander Matt Clark stated that the family of the deceased woman found in the hearse had been informed that they had received her ashes. The news of the mix-up left them devastated.

Clark described the family’s reaction by saying, “They’re shocked. They believed that they were processing their grief with the remains that they had and had had services with that. And then they come to find out that that was not the person that was processed, and in fact, she was being held in that hearse there.”

Harford, who appears to have been facing financial difficulties, is believed to be in the Denver area, according to Clark. He now faces charges of abuse of a corpse, forgery of a death certificate, and theft. As of now, there is no record of an attorney representing Harford.

The Denver police and medical officials were summoned to the property Harford was renting on the morning of February 6th. The property owner had evicted Harford and discovered boxes of cremated remains while cleaning the space, prompting the call to authorities. The Denver Sheriff’s Department, which had been present during the eviction, subsequently inspected the home and found the body of the deceased woman, as well as additional cremated remains inside a hearse on the property.

The identity of the woman’s body was later confirmed as a 63-year-old who passed away due to natural causes in August 2022. Her family was informed about the discovery, and her remains have been sent to the medical examiner’s office in Denver. Clark revealed that inside the home, they found three dozen temporary urns, some of which were empty. He described the urns as “black plastic boxes similar to the size of a shoe box.” Additional urns were discovered inside the hearse along with the woman’s body. Clark mentioned that all the recovered remains appear to be from individuals who passed away between 2012 and 2021.

Due to the difficulty of extracting DNA samples from ashes, Clark stated that the medical examiner’s office will not conduct DNA tests on the remains found at Harford’s home or those given to families. He acknowledged the complexity of the case and the emotional toll it has taken on the affected families. Clark also mentioned that additional charges may be filed once they have a better understanding of Harford’s operations and how he handled the human remains.

The Denver Police Department urges former clients of Harford’s funeral home who have concerns to contact them at 720-913-6610. They also encourage anyone with information about the case to reach out to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.

The case involving Harford is not the only funeral home investigation in Colorado. The state currently does not have routine inspections or qualification requirements for funeral home operators, as reported by the Associated Press. In October, authorities discovered over 115 improperly stored bodies at a funeral home in Penrose, Colorado after receiving a report of a foul odor. The owner of the facility, known for performing “green” burials, had attempted to conceal the improper storage of the bodies. In another incident in Penrose, a married couple was arrested for allegedly abandoning nearly 200 bodies for several years inside a bug-infested facility. The couple is also accused of providing family members with fake ashes. Additionally, a funeral home operator and her mother in Montrose were sentenced for mail fraud after selling body parts and distributing fake ashes.

The recent series of incidents has raised concerns about the need for licensing and supervision of funeral homes in the state. Denver District Attorney Beth McCann expressed her belief that similar situations may be occurring elsewhere in Colorado. She mentioned the possibility of proposed legislation to address these concerns.

As the investigation into the case continues, it serves as a reminder of the importance of proper oversight and regulation in the funeral home industry to ensure the respectful treatment of the deceased and provide peace of mind to grieving families..

– Colorado funeral home director woman’s body
– Colorado funeral home director remains.