LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The owner of the southern Indiana funeral home, where 31 decomposing bodies and 17 cremated remains were found, is facing criminal charges.
Lankford Funeral Home's Randy Lankford has been charged with three counts of theft.
Investigators said a tip led them to the funeral home in July, where they smelled an extreme stage of decomposition from the outside of the bodies, which they described as "horrendous."
Court documents detail how the investigators found the bodies in body bags throughout the funeral home.
Investigators added families were given remains that were incorrectly labeled and belonged to other families.
Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said he wants to "get some measure of justice" for the families.
“They’ve been in contact with the police department, with my office, and have expressed deep distress," he said. "To the extent that I’m allowed to do it under Indiana law, I’m going to work to get justice for these victims so they can move forward."
Amanda Humphrey's father was among the dozens of bodies found that day.
"At first it was like disbelief because we were like, 'no, we have ashes," she recalled. "What those police officers and investigators walked into is heart wrenching."
The funeral home gave her an urn it claimed to be filled with her dad's ashes - but it was actually another man.
In fact, the Clark County Prosecutor's Office said so far, it found two other families that experienced the same thing. It's why Mull has charged Lankford with the three counts of theft.
However, Humphrey is not satisfied with the charges.
"They kept saying just be patient. It's going to be a laundry list of charges," she said. "I think the fact that we've been waiting for these charges to be brought up and now that they are, it's almost seems like it's a set back."
Humphrey said she thought she would get closure after all this time, but said the feeling is far from it.
Mull said the investigation is ongoing and he expects additional charges, but he said he wants to cross every 'T' before moving forward.
"So that when I come out the gate and file the charges in the case that they are supported by evidence and it's a situation that I am able to take to trial quickly, if need be, and to prevail," he said.
Lankford first appeared in court July 19, and the Indiana State Board suspended his licenses Aug. 4.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.