An investigation into a Texas funeral home following an alleged stabbing on behalf of one of its workers unveiled a gruesome discovery. Reportedly, police discovered at least 10 decaying, rotten bodies inside the un-air-conditioned Houston funeral home.
Videos by Wide Open Country
According to KTRK, police arrived at the Richardson Mortuary located on Brookfield Drive on Friday, April 11. They had received a report of a stabbing that had taken place on the premises. Allegedly, one of the funeral home workers stabbed one customer. As per the victim's sister, both she and her brother arrived at the funeral home to confront the owners over suspicions regarding their mother's and uncle's bodies.
The pair began recording the bodies in the funeral home, which prompted the alleged stabbing.
"I opened up the casket, and she had gnats in her face," Tamara McGruder, the victim's brother, told the outlet, referring to her mother's body. She added that other bodies were stored in caskets, bodies, and plastic bags in an environment that had no air conditioning. "It smells like rotten blood."
While recording the scene, a Richardson Mortuary worker asked them to leave. When they refused, the worker allegedly stabbed McGruder's brother in the stomach.
Police arrived at the scene shortly after. Fortunately for McGruder's brother, he suffered a minor injury and was able to drive himself to a local hospital. Since the funeral home claimed self-defense, authorities did not charge the individual.
Bodies Found
According to Houston Police Department Captain Jim Dale, at least 10 bodies were found inside the funeral home. Some of them were lying on the ground and cardboard, as reported by Fox 26. All the bodies were transported to other funeral homes in the area.
While there is no confirmation on the actual state of the bodies or for how long they were stored in such conditions, Richardson Mortuary has received a significant amount of backlash. After Tamara McGruder shared the videos she recorded online, many others arrived at the funeral home. They were asking for their deceased loved ones.
Murita Brown, for example, found out that her grandmother, who was supposed to be cremated, was still allegedly stored at the funeral home, as per KTRK. Similarly, Demtrious Riley-Sylvester, as per Fox 26, also found her brother's body stored. Just like Brown, she thought her loved one had been cremated, with both women waiting for their ashes.
Richardson Mortuary is currently being investigated by the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
