LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Floyd County Coroner Greg Roution said his office is looking for relatives of 11 people whose remains were found at Spring Valley Funeral Home in New Albany after the state suspended its license.
In a Facebook post, Roution said the Indiana Attorney General's Office informed him Wednesday that all the cremated remains left at the funeral home on East Spring Street have been turned over to the Floyd County coroner's office so they can be returned to the families of the deceased.
In total, Roution said the remains of 18 people are now in his possession, and he's looking for next of kin for all but seven:
Seeking Next of Kin
- Margaret S Mollenaijer 07/17/1978
- Adavid Elmer Eppley sometime between1970-1980
- Steve L Wilson 01/07/2018
- Robert Goodman 01/24/2023
- Tammy Lynn Thompson 02/13/2023
- Richard Higgs 04/17/2023
- George Fath 10/12/2023
- Stephen Gary 11/11/2023
- Josh Hurley 11/30/2023
- Darren Murphy 02-12-2024
- Gary Thompson 04/05/2024
Family Contacted:
- Shamika Thomas 09/15/2022
- Deborah Jean Orth 02/24/2023
- Margaret Downs 09/19/2023
- Shannon Haysley 11/02/2023
- William L Hubbard Jr 12/07/2023
- Bernice Arnett 01/12/2024
- James Johnson 02/06/2024
The Indiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service suspended the license for Spring Valley Funeral Home on East Spring Street in New Albany, calling it "a clear and immediate danger to public health."
"They come to this facility to be taken care of and they're not, and it's really hurtful," Roution said.
Roution said the two remains from the 1970s, were found in a cabinet in the facility.
Some of the cremains are from people who have been dead for decades.
He said it is not unheard of to come across unclaimred remains, but that has not been the case with families he's been in contact with.
"They're like, 'we've been trying forever,' a couple said, 'we've been trying to get a hold of them and can't reach them.'" Roution said. "I said they're in in my hands now and I will be hand delivering them to you within the week."
Relatives have been found in the area, Vine Grove, and Lexington.
He said the coroner's office will continue to work with law enforcement and spread the word to try and reunite everyone, but if that cannot be done, he has a plan.
"We'll hang on to them and hopefully get a vault to put all these people in and at least have them situated," he said.
Among the things found at the inspection, the state reported:
- A strong smell of decomposition in the embalming room
- A decedent that passed away June 17 but remained unembalmed as of June 28
- Blood, flies and other fluids found on the surfaces of the embalming room
- Six large medical waste containers stored in the embalming room
- The former owner still lives above the funeral home and, despite lacking the proper licensing, still has access to the facility
- The cremated remains of 15 people were being stored at the facility, all of whom died before 2024
"... Respondent represents a clear and immediate danger to the public health, safety, or property if allowed to continue to practice as a funeral home in Indiana," Tomas Sproles, chair of the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service, wrote in an Aug. 15 order.
Routin said families can call the his office at 812-948-5478 and press # 1 to leave a message. They can also email him at Groution@floydcounty.in.gov.
Related Stories:
- Families question cremated remains after New Albany funeral home shut down for violations
- New Albany funeral home has license suspended after state finds 'dangerous conditions'
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