Offenses and Community Protection
In a shocking turn of events, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an investigation into Davis Mortuary in Pueblo, Colorado, following the discovery of approximately 20 decomposing bodies behind a hidden door.
The funeral home, which has been in operation for over 50 years and is owned by the Davis family, has had its operations suspended pending the investigation. The exact count of bodies involved is not yet known due to the inability to access the room without moving the bodies.
The investigation was sparked during an annual inspection, a practice that only began in 2024 as Colorado funeral homes were previously exempt from such checks. The discovery has raised concerns about the state's regulations governing funeral homes, which some industry experts deem among the weakest in the nation.
The husband and wife owners of Return to Nature funeral home in Penrose were arrested in October 2023 for the discovery of 190 decomposing bodies. This incident, along with the current investigation at Davis Mortuary, has brought the industry under scrutiny.
Brian Cotter, the operator of Davis Mortuary and first elected as Pueblo county coroner in 2014, initially claimed the bodies were awaiting cremation. However, further investigation revealed that some had been in the room for roughly 15 years, and he may have issued fake cremains to some families.
Cotter sits on the Colorado Coroners Association's Board of Directors, and his business took custody of more human remains than it had capacity for. The investigation involves charges of willful dishonest conduct, negligence, and fraud.
Some investigators who worked on the Return to Nature case are also investigating Davis Mortuary. The investigation is being led by the CBI, Colorado State Patrol hazmat operators, and the Denver FBI field office.
In 2018, Sunset Mesa funeral home in Montrose was raided for the harvesting and selling of body parts without the families' knowledge or consent. This incident underscores the importance of stricter regulations in the funeral industry to protect the families who entrust their loved ones to these establishments.
CBI Director Armando Saldate described the situation as a "profound violation of trust and a heartbreaking betrayal of the families who entrusted their loved ones to this funeral home." The investigation at Davis Mortuary is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
