Funeral director allegedly leaves corpse in hearse

[February 26, 2009]  GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) -- A funeral director faces a felony charge after police found a woman's decomposing body in the back of a hearse.

Police said the 76-year-old funeral home owner was charged Tuesday with abusing a corpse. Police said the woman died of natural causes in November 2007 at the age of 52. Relatives said they wanted her remains cremated.

But police said the family never signed papers for a cremation or paid the funeral home. So the owner allegedly put the body in the back of a hearse and parked it on a lot with other old vehicles.

Someone complained about a foul odor, leading officers to discover the decomposing remains.

[Associated Press]

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