Colorado Funeral Home Stashed 189 Decaying Bodies, Handed Out Fake Ashes

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A Colorado funeral home has been accused of illegally storing 189 decaying bodies and handing out fake ashes to grieving families, including the ashes of Derrick Johnson's mother, who he had buried at his home in Maui. The FBI contacted Johnson a year after he buried his mother's ashes, informing him that the ashes were fake and that her body had been improperly stored at the funeral home.

Why it matters

This case highlights the lack of oversight and regulation in the funeral home industry, which has allowed unscrupulous operators to take advantage of grieving families. It also raises concerns about the emotional and psychological toll on victims who have been deceived about the final resting place of their loved ones.

The details

Authorities discovered that the Colorado funeral home had been illegally storing 189 decaying bodies in various states of decomposition, rather than properly cremating or burying them. The funeral home had also been handing out fake ashes to families, including the ashes that Derrick Johnson had buried for his mother at his home in Maui.

• In 2023, Derrick Johnson buried his mother's ashes at his home in Maui.
• In 2024, the FBI contacted Johnson to inform him that the ashes he had buried were fake and that his mother's body had been improperly stored at the funeral home.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The FBI and local authorities are continuing to investigate the funeral home and its owners, and are working to identify and notify all of the affected families.