Richardson Mortuary in Houston, Texas, has become the center of a Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigation after a disturbing video surfaced on social media.
The footage, posted by a family member of a deceased person, shows several neglected bodies at the funeral home. The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage and drawing attention to the unsanitary and unprofessional conditions inside the mortuary.
Viral Video Raises Alarming Concerns
The video, filmed by a family member, shows the mishandling of bodies inside the facility. According to KTRK, several other concerned family members arrived at the mortuary after seeing the video and feared for the safety and dignity of their loved ones who had been entrusted to the funeral home.
One woman recognized her own grandmother, who was supposed to have been cremated already but was found in the mortuary instead.
Chaos and Confrontation at the Scene
The situation escalated when the person filming the video was confronted by a mortuary employee, who allegedly stabbed the individual. The victim, who suffered a superficial stomach wound, told KRIV that he was taking himself to the hospital. Police are investigating the incident, and it is unclear whether the employee acted in self-defense.
While the identities of the employee and victim have not been disclosed, the victim’s sister, Tamara McGruder, spoke to local outlets about the horrific conditions inside the mortuary. McGruder and her brother, who filmed the video, arrived at the mortuary to check on their mother and uncle’s remains.
Shocking Conditions Inside Richardson Mortuary
McGruder described the mortuary as being in disarray, with bodies improperly stored around the building, which was undergoing construction. Air conditioning was not working in any of the rooms, including those where the bodies were kept. Some bodies were out in the open, while others were in caskets or plastic bags.
McGruder told KTRK, “It’s bodies in caskets, boxes, plastic bags. No A/C, gnats, and it smells like rotten blood.” She also described how she found her mother’s casket, with gnats surrounding her face.
Family Members Speak Out About Missing Cremations
Murita Brown, another family member, recognized a woman in the video who appeared to be her grandmother. Brown revealed that her grandmother was supposed to be cremated in March 2023 but had not yet received the ashes. She told KTRK, “She was supposed to have been cremated already, and we’ve been waiting on her ashes, but nothing has happened.”
Another family member, Demtrious Riley-Sylvester, shared her experience of being told that her brother’s remains had been cremated, only to discover that the claim was false. She expressed her anger, saying, “It’s like some trash or a dog. Just throw him away like he’s trash.”
Past Complaints and Investigation
Harris County Precinct 7 Constable Smokie Phillips confirmed that he knew the business owner of Richardson Mortuary personally and revealed that the owner was currently in the hospital after having a heart attack. Phillips also mentioned that the owner had allowed the bodies to be moved to other funeral homes.
Richardson Mortuary has reportedly received 14 complaints over the last 10 years related to its operations, raising serious concerns about the facility’s practices.