Richardson Mortuary in southwest Houston has been ordered to stop operations immediately after a report from the Texas Funeral Service Commission revealed violations that include decomposing bodies on-site and serious health and safety failures.
This comes after a viral video of a family complaining about the conditions of their loved one’s body while showing the conditions of the funeral home. The incident also included a funeral home worker assaulting someone, sending them to the hospital with a stab wound.
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The commission confirms that Richardson Mortuary was given five specific mandates to complete.
So far, the representatives of Richardson Mortuary, Michael Richardson and Gayle Bell, have only “partially” complied. Michael Richardson, the owner, mentioned health problems, which may have prevented him from fully complying with the deadline.
The Texas Funeral Service Commission says between April 11 and April 14, just days before the cease-and-desist order, the mortuary transferred bodies to other facilities.
The state has launched an investigation into the facility, which is now effectively closed after the landlord locked the business out, according to the TFSC.
TFSC is reviewing partial service records and will collect the remaining documents in person. The commission also received a corresponding list of decedents and their next of kin to assist in verifying each case as the investigation continues.
READ: How to find out if a funeral home is legit in Texas
Anyone with additional information regarding Richardson Mortuary is encouraged to contact the Texas Funeral Service Commission at legal@tfsc.texas.gov or by phone at (512) 936-2474
