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Remains of over 60 babies, fetuses found stored in US funeral home

Saturday, 20 October 2018 5:22 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 20 October 2018 5:26 AM ]

Perry Funeral Home in Detroit, Michigan, is being investigated for possibly mishandling of baby remains, October 19, 2018.

The remains of more than 60 infants and fetuses were found stashed in a funeral home in Detroit, Michigan, a discovery that US police have called “deeply disturbing.”

Unrefrigerated boxes containing about 36 sets of remains were recovered from the Perry Funeral Home along with another 27 sets of remains in a freezer, Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters on Friday.

City, state and federal investigators were looking to form a task force to investigate the improper storage of human remains, the police chief added.

“This is deeply disturbing,” he said. “I have never seen anything like this in my 41-1/2 years (on the force), ever.”

The incident comes about a week after the badly decomposed bodies of 11 babies were found hidden in a false ceiling at a different funeral home in Michigan’s largest city.

Michigan officials said they have revoked the license of Perry Funeral Home and shut down the facility after inspectors “found heinous conditions and negligent conduct at the home.”

Police have also launched an investigation into the now defunct Cantrell Funeral Home in Detroit, where the remains of the 11 babies were uncovered last week after authorities received an anonymous letter leading them to the remains.

In April, state regulators found “deplorable, unsanitary conditions” at the same premises, including embalmed bodies in an unrefrigerated garage and other badly decomposed remains.

The funeral home was also accused of several licensing and financial violations, the agency said.

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