Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed two bills into law that will overhaul the state’s oversight of the funeral home industry following a series of gruesome discoveries, including 190 decomposing bodies in a facility, families receiving fake ashes, and the unauthorized sale of body parts. These cases shed light on Colorado’s weak funeral home regulations, which were some of the most lenient in the nation, causing distress for many grieving families. Some families had unknowingly spread fake ashes and others had nightmares about what their loved ones may have looked like in a decayed state.
The new laws bring Colorado’s regulations more in line with those of other states, with one requiring routine inspections of funeral homes and granting regulators more enforcement power, and another implementing licensing requirements for funeral directors and other industry workers. Previously, funeral home directors in Colorado were not required to have a high school diploma, let alone a degree. While the funeral home industry was generally supportive of the changes, some expressed concerns that strict requirements for funeral directors may make it difficult to find suitable candidates.
These bill signings come after a tumultuous year for Colorado funeral homes. In October, authorities discovered 190 decaying bodies in a facility in Penrose, including adults, infants, and fetuses, with some bodies dating back to 2019. The discovery led to families realizing that the ashes they had received were not those of their loved ones. One mother, whose son was found in the Penrose facility, emphasized the importance of ensuring the new laws are strictly implemented. These new regulations should also require crematoriums to independently verify the identity of remains before certifying to the state that they have been cremated.
In most states, funeral homes are subject to routine inspections, but there were no such requirements in Colorado prior to the new laws. The owners of the funeral home where the decomposing bodies were found were arrested and face multiple charges of abusing corpses. Just months after this discovery, a woman’s body was found in the back of a hearse where it had been left for over a year by a suburban Denver funeral home. Additionally, at least 30 sets of cremated remains were found hidden throughout the funeral director’s home.
Polis emphasized the importance of ensuring families can trust funeral homes to care for their loved ones with professionalism and integrity during their time of grief. The new laws aim to prevent future incidents of fraud, abuse, and neglect within the funeral home industry in Colorado by implementing stricter regulations and licensing requirements for industry workers. While the funeral home industry may face some challenges in meeting these new requirements, the hope is that these laws will lead to a more accountable and trustworthy industry that prioritizes the dignity and respect of the deceased and their families.
