Indiana funeral director pleads guilty to 40 theft counts after decomposing bodies found read full article on indianwallah.in

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — The director of a southern Indiana funeral house the place 31 decomposing our bodies and the cremains of 17 others have been discovered pleaded responsible Friday to greater than 40 counts of prison robbery.

Randy Lankford, proprietor of Lankford Funeral House and Circle of relatives Middle in Jeffersonville, faces a proposed sentence of 12 years: 4 years in jail and 8 years of house incarceration, Clark County Circuit Court docket Pass judgement on N. Lisa Glickfield stated.

Lankford used to be charged with robbery for failing to finish the funeral products and services he used to be paid for, and will have to additionally pay restitution to 53 households totaling $46,000.

Lankford used to be launched to house incarceration following the listening to. A proper sentencing listening to is deliberate for June 23.

Jeffersonville Police started investigating the funeral house early final July after the county coroner’s place of job reported a robust smell emanating from the development. The unrefrigerated our bodies have been present in more than a few states of decomposition, and a few have been on the funeral house since March.

Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull stated the various fees in opposition to Lankford and current court docket backups from the COVID-19 pandemic difficult the method. He stated he felt the state’s transfer to get rid of about part of the counts will grant essentially the most instant type of reduction.

“We needed to get justice for those households,” he stated.

Derrick Kessinger attended Friday’s court docket listening to. He stated he depended on Lankford whilst the stays of 3 family members sat throughout the funeral house.

“It’s been tricky, however I do forgive him for what he did,” Kessinger stated. “I am hoping he can in finding forgiveness.”

Kessinger sooner or later won the cremains.