Misty Rose Blevins told this news outlet that her mother, Tammy Lynn Blevins, 56, died June 27 and was cremated at Premium Mortuary Services on July 10.
The crematory’s conditions — as described by a state board inspector during a July 28 visit — “disgusted” her, she told this news outlet.
“This is morally wrong. They should be ashamed,” she said.
The owner of the business told a state board inspector on July 28 that the company’s three-person cooler had not worked since July 26. He didn’t say how long the company’s walk-in cooler had not worked.
The inspector observed 18 deceased human bodies in the facility during the July 28 inspection. Seven of those bodies had not yet been embalmed, according to the inspector.
The crematory business has temporarily lost its license, according to state documents obtained by this news outlet.
This news outlet has left a message with the company seeking comment.
Premium Mortuary Services is a “freestanding” crematory, Jon Rittig, president of the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors board, told our news partner WCPO.
“All of these cases had to come through a funeral home,” he said. “This person was not a licensed funeral home, so they shouldn’t have been — they can’t be working directly with the public. A funeral home enlists them to perform the cremation.”
Al Milton, director of the Donald Jordan Memorial Chapel in Middletown, said his funeral home used Premier for cremations until it switched to Woodside Cemetery. He never had any trouble at Premier, he said.
“Very professional,” he said of the owners. “A great group of guys.”
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