Was Colorado Funeral Home That Held 190 Bodies Part of Larger Dark 'Human Body' Industry?
Dec 19, 2023, 10:00 PM
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How does a funeral home, a place of supposed respect and care for the deceased, transform into a site of a ghastly stack of 190 bodies? This question is at the heart of a recent episode of "Hidden Killers," where host Tony Brueski discusses the disturbing case of the 'Return to Nature' funeral home in Colorado with former prosecutor Laurie Gilbertson.
The episode begins with a shocking revelation: in a place named 'Return to Nature', 189 bodies were found haphazardly stacked near mundane objects like a Coke machine. Brueski and Gilbertson explore the logistics and psychology behind such a horrifying act, delving into the inadequacies in regulatory oversight in Colorado's funeral home industry.
Gilbertson, with her extensive legal background, points to a combination of greed and exploitation as key factors in this scandal. "It really starts with greed and grift and taking advantage of the grief of vulnerable people at a really terrible time in their lives," she says, highlighting the gross violation of trust involved in this case. The revelation that families were left with urns containing not the ashes of their loved ones but likely some inert substance like cement dust adds to the horrific nature of the deceit.
The discussion then turns to the practicalities of such an operation. The EPA's involvement in addressing the health hazards of the building indicates the severity of the situation. Gilbertson expresses bewilderment at how the funeral home's operators could conduct business in such an environment, suggesting the possibility of a toxic and deadly atmosphere inside the building.
As the conversation progresses, Brueski raises the possibility of a more sinister dimension to the case, involving the illegal trade in human body parts. Gilbertson acknowledges this dark industry, noting, "There's an industry for the body parts... people who actually want limbs and bones and skulls." This leads to speculation about whether the funeral home's actions were part of a larger, more nefarious operation.
Gilbertson emphasizes the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by such businesses. "It's absolutely heartbreaking that there are people out there who will target the most vulnerable at their most vulnerable time," she remarks. This point underscores the tragedy that extends beyond the immediate horror of the discovery to the emotional trauma inflicted on the families involved.
The conversation concludes with the acknowledgment that there is likely more to be uncovered in this case. Gilbertson suggests that if the funeral home was involved in selling body parts, it would add an even more gruesome layer to an already appalling situation. She asserts, "I think there's a lot more to this story," indicating that the investigation could reveal further shocking details.
This episode of "Hidden Killers" not only exposes a shocking case of neglect and deceit at a Colorado funeral home but also raises critical questions about the oversight and regulation of such facilities. How did such a flagrant disrespect for both the dead and the living go unnoticed for so long? And what other dark secrets might lie hidden within the 'Return to Nature' funeral home? The ongoing investigation into this case may yet reveal more about the extent of this disturbing scandal.
The episode begins with a shocking revelation: in a place named 'Return to Nature', 189 bodies were found haphazardly stacked near mundane objects like a Coke machine. Brueski and Gilbertson explore the logistics and psychology behind such a horrifying act, delving into the inadequacies in regulatory oversight in Colorado's funeral home industry.
Gilbertson, with her extensive legal background, points to a combination of greed and exploitation as key factors in this scandal. "It really starts with greed and grift and taking advantage of the grief of vulnerable people at a really terrible time in their lives," she says, highlighting the gross violation of trust involved in this case. The revelation that families were left with urns containing not the ashes of their loved ones but likely some inert substance like cement dust adds to the horrific nature of the deceit.
The discussion then turns to the practicalities of such an operation. The EPA's involvement in addressing the health hazards of the building indicates the severity of the situation. Gilbertson expresses bewilderment at how the funeral home's operators could conduct business in such an environment, suggesting the possibility of a toxic and deadly atmosphere inside the building.
As the conversation progresses, Brueski raises the possibility of a more sinister dimension to the case, involving the illegal trade in human body parts. Gilbertson acknowledges this dark industry, noting, "There's an industry for the body parts... people who actually want limbs and bones and skulls." This leads to speculation about whether the funeral home's actions were part of a larger, more nefarious operation.
Gilbertson emphasizes the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by such businesses. "It's absolutely heartbreaking that there are people out there who will target the most vulnerable at their most vulnerable time," she remarks. This point underscores the tragedy that extends beyond the immediate horror of the discovery to the emotional trauma inflicted on the families involved.
The conversation concludes with the acknowledgment that there is likely more to be uncovered in this case. Gilbertson suggests that if the funeral home was involved in selling body parts, it would add an even more gruesome layer to an already appalling situation. She asserts, "I think there's a lot more to this story," indicating that the investigation could reveal further shocking details.
This episode of "Hidden Killers" not only exposes a shocking case of neglect and deceit at a Colorado funeral home but also raises critical questions about the oversight and regulation of such facilities. How did such a flagrant disrespect for both the dead and the living go unnoticed for so long? And what other dark secrets might lie hidden within the 'Return to Nature' funeral home? The ongoing investigation into this case may yet reveal more about the extent of this disturbing scandal.
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Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com