Death without dignity? Bodies found stacked up in Valley cars

PHOENIX - When a loved one dies, you trust their body will be treated with dignity.

That's what the Cope family of Mesa expected, but what's happening at one Valley business may have your jaw drop.

 We've uncovered conditions at a crematory that are so alarming, state regulators are already taking action.

THE STORY THAT STARTED THE INVESTIGATION

At age 83, Paul Cope died in March. His body was supposed to be cremated at All State Crematory in Mesa. His ashes were to be brought home.

But that didn't happen. Days turned into weeks, and the five generations of Copes didn't have any answers.

At the same time, ABC15 received a news tip after a viewer who worked near the Mesa crematory noticed suspicious activity.

That viewer said he was drawn to what he called the disgusting way bodies were being treated.

He took pictures of boxes sitting in open vans outside the crematory. He said the boxes were heavy and the rancid smell was so strong, he believed there were bodies inside. There were even names on the boxes. One of them was Paul Cope.

The tipster told us, "Imagine the worst smell you could ever smell and multiply that by 100."

VIDEO: EYEWITNESS CELL PHONE VIDEO OF INSIDE CREMATORY

VIDEO: CREMATORY SITES AND SMELLS STILL AFFECT EYEWITNESS

The Cope family was emotional as we showed them one of the pictures. Relatives told us Paul's body didn't deserve to be treated with this lack of respect.

The pictures showed boxes un-stacked in the back of a van. Our tipster even took video at night when the crematory garage door was open. The cell phone camera captured what appeared to be ashes on the floor.

ABC15 GOES UNDERCOVER TO CONFIRM THE REPORTS

The ABC15 Investigators went undercover at the All State Crematory to see if the owner was routinely holding bodies this way.

First, we spotted a crematory van with boxes in it. We watched it through the night.

We switched crews to keep an eye on that van and we never saw it move.

By early afternoon the following day, the temperature had reached 80 degrees.

Then, at 2pm, 19 hours after we began watching the van, the boxes were removed and carted into the crematory

VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES: INVESTIGATORS 19-HOUR UNDERCOVER

We approached All State Crematory owner Frank Lambert for answers.

He admitted to us that the five boxes we watched in the van contained bodies being held for cremation.

Here's part of our exchange:

Joe Ducey/ABC15: "Those are bodies stored in your van overnight. Is that the way you should be doing it?"
Owner Lambert: "No"
Joe Ducey/ABC15: "Why did you do it?"
Lambert:" I don't have room"

We also asked Lambert about another van we saw, where four boxes were being removed.

Lambert said he had taken that van home all night with the four bodies inside.

Arizona law states crematories must hold remains in a "refrigerated holding facility"...in a "rigid container"..."that preserves the dignity of the human remains."

RESOURCE: CHECK ARIZONA CREMATORY AND FUNERAL RULES

Lambert said he had been too busy and his cooler was full. He also said he used the vans as a temporary measure to hold the bodies.

Here's more of our exchange:

Joe Ducey/ABC15: "What do you say to the families now who are looking at this and thinking gosh, maybe that was my mother or dad, my uncle or grandma?"
Owner Lambert: "Just that I'm doing the best I can, trying to keep on top of what business I've got."

Lambert apologized to the families and said it isn't the way crematories should operate. He said he was in the process of purchasing a refrigerated vehicle, and that there were no ashes on the floor. He said he used kitty litter to absorb body fluids.

Lambert told us he had seen maggots, and when asked if that meant bodies had been out for awhile, Lambert said "I'm sure they have been."

HOW STATE LAWMAKERS ARE REACTING

We took our findings to Rudy Thomas, Executive Director of the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. That organization regulates crematories.

Thomas said what we found at All State Crematory is an embarrassment to the industry.

He said his department had investigated All State Crematory before after a complaint about ashes on the floor. He said nothing was found during that investigation.

SIMILAR CONCERNS? COMPLAIN TO STATE FUNERAL INVESTIGATORS

Thomas watched our video and asked, "Does he believe a van is a secure way of holding human remains? How could you do that?"

He also reiterated that the bodies must be kept in refrigeration if they are not embalmed.

Thomas told us Lambert was in "strict violation of the law" and will go before his board for a May 17th hearing.

THE COPE FAMILY MOVES ON

We followed Paul Cope's family back to All State Crematory as they went searching for Paul's ashes.

When they asked why it had taken so long, owner Lambert said Paul would be cremated that day. The family got Paul's ashes 24 hours later.

VIDEO: FAMILY VOICES FRUSTRATION OVER TREATMENT OF BODY

Those ashes now sit in a special box right next to other items that were special to Paul, like his favorite coffee cup.

And now that Paul is home, they say it's time to grieve and move on.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?

Do you have similar questions about your funeral home or crematory? Have you had a bad experience? We want to know. Email Joe Ducey at jducey@abc15.com and Maria Tomasch at mtomasch@abc15.com

You can also add a comment below to voice your opinion on the crematory conditions our cameras caught.