Ohio man accepts responsibility for discarding bodies at funeral home
Posted: Sunday, September 14, 2003
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -- A tear streaming down his cheek, a funeral home owner accepted responsibility Friday for discarding eight corpses that were found rotting in the home earlier this summer.
In a plea agreement, Henry Harden, 62, pleaded no contest to abusing a corpse and to a theft charge stemming from a $1,100 payment for funeral services that were never provided.
As part of the agreement, Harden's wife -- co-owner of the Sherill-Harden Funeral Home -- will not be charged, nor will further charges be brought against Harden. He faces up to nine years in prison at sentencing Oct. 10.
The couple left court without making any statement, but attorney John Potts said they were relieved the investigation is over.
"They're not callous people. They're not people motivated by greed," he said.
Authorities found the eight bodies in June. Six were in the home's preparation room; two were in an adjacent garage.
Some bodies had been gnawed by rodents and were left for months. One was left since 1996; another has not yet been identified. Harden has told investigators he believes the unidentified body was left before he took over the business.
Harden has said he got into financial trouble because he would reduce rates or provide free services for the poor. At least once, he gave a casket to a family that could not afford one, Potts said.
"Over the years, he has done a lot of good for the community," Potts said. "We hope that is taken into consideration."
The Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors has suspended his licenses and shut down the home.
In a plea agreement, Henry Harden, 62, pleaded no contest to abusing a corpse and to a theft charge stemming from a $1,100 payment for funeral services that were never provided.
As part of the agreement, Harden's wife -- co-owner of the Sherill-Harden Funeral Home -- will not be charged, nor will further charges be brought against Harden. He faces up to nine years in prison at sentencing Oct. 10.
The couple left court without making any statement, but attorney John Potts said they were relieved the investigation is over.
"They're not callous people. They're not people motivated by greed," he said.
Authorities found the eight bodies in June. Six were in the home's preparation room; two were in an adjacent garage.
Some bodies had been gnawed by rodents and were left for months. One was left since 1996; another has not yet been identified. Harden has told investigators he believes the unidentified body was left before he took over the business.
Harden has said he got into financial trouble because he would reduce rates or provide free services for the poor. At least once, he gave a casket to a family that could not afford one, Potts said.
"Over the years, he has done a lot of good for the community," Potts said. "We hope that is taken into consideration."
The Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors has suspended his licenses and shut down the home.
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