The board has recommended that the company’s license be suspended immediately, stating it presents “a danger of immediate and serious harm.”
Jon Rittig, board president, said the Crematory Review Board will consider the facts involved in the case and make a recommendation back to the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors board. He said the seven-member board has seven to 14 days to make its decision, according to state law.
Rittig said the board takes the accusations “very, very seriously” and its goal is to “protect” consumers.
This news outlet has left a message with the company seeking comment.
Here’s what a board inspector found at the facility July 28, according to state documents:
- "a slight odor of decomposition" around an exterior garage door that was slightly open
- three deceased human bodies in alternate cardboard containers — one on a cot, and the other two each on separate eight-foot tables, located outside of two coolers. These three bodies had been embalmed.
- a three-person cooler not functioning properly with a temperature of about 68 degrees, according to the temperature gauge.
- a walk-in cooler not functioning properly with a temperature of about 62 degrees.
- an odor of decomposition inside the facility
- dead flies on the floor and live ones flying around the facility
- a temperature of 95 degrees in the cremation retort area and 93 degrees on the garage door
The inspector observed 18 deceased human bodies in the facility. Fifteen were adults and three were children.
Of the seven bodies that hadn’t been embalmed, their date of arrival at Premium Mortuary Services were: Feb. 6, March 12, April 10, June 22, July 22 ,July 22 and July 26, according to documents.
The owner told the inspector that the three-person cooler had not worked since July 26. He didn’t say how long the walk-in cooler had not worked.
Local law enforcement and the Warren County Coroner’s Office were called to the scene, and the two coolers were repaired.
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