Twenty-four bodies, multiple containers of bones and several other containers of what investigators believe to be human tissue have been recovered from inside a Pueblo funeral home that is co-owned by the county coroner, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday.
Investigators transferred the improperly stored human remains inside Davis Mortuary to the El Paso County Coroner’s office for identification, which could take several months, CBI said.
The human tissue represents an “unknown number of deceased individuals,” officials said.
Agents also searched the homes of Brian Cotter, Pueblo County coroner and his brother, Chris, who are listed as joint owners of the funeral home, but have not questioned either of them, as both have retained legal counsel, CBI said.
As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made. CBI does not consider either man to be a flight risk.
Investigators will use dental X-rays, fingerprints and DNA samples to identify the remains, some of which could be at least 15 years old, CBI said. Experts will also compare DNA with samples that are voluntarily submitted by family members.
Several elected officials, including Gov. Jared Polis and the county sheriff, have called for Brian Cotter’s resignation. Since the coroner is an elected position in Colorado, the governor, county commissioners, nor sheriff have the authority to remove Cotter from his position.
Voters elected Cotter to serve as the county coroner in 2014 and his term is expected to end in 2027, according to the Pueblo County Coroner’s office. However, the El Paso and Fremont county coroners have taken over day-to-day operations at the Pueblo County Coroner’s office, Sheriff David Lucero said last week.
Leaders at the Colorado Coroners Association, an educational organization, unanimously voted to remove Cotter as its secretary last week. In a letter issued last week, the association’s president said the decision was due to “unethical practices and harm to the community” in which Cotter was sworn to serve.
“All coroners in the state of Colorado, whether elected or appointed, are held to the same standard of ethics, including the operation of a private business,” wrote Raeann Brown, who is also the Douglas County coroner.
The board of directors also called for Cotter’s resignation “in solidarity with those affected by Davis Mortuary’s egregious act.”
The criminal investigation started last week after state inspectors conducted an inspection Aug. 20, mandated by law, at the funeral home. After noticing a strong odor, inspectors found bodies in various stages of decomposition behind a hidden door.
Cotter told inspectors that he may have given fake cremated remains to next of kin, CBI said.
Families who have used Davis Mortuary services can contact CBI’s victim assistance line at 719-257-3359 or email [email protected]. CBI is also asking families to fill out a questionnaire to assist with the investigation.
As of noon Tuesday, CBI has received 843 tips and 336 people have filled out the victim information questionnaire.
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