The owner of a funeral home in Indiana pleaded guilty to felony theft charges.
Randy Lankford, the director and owner of the Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center in Indiana, pleaded guilty on Friday, May 26, following an investigation last year that uncovered the shocking discovery of 31 decomposing bodies and the post-cremation remains of 17 other individuals at his funeral home.
Lankford faced more than 40 counts of felony theft for failing to provide funeral services that had been prepaid. The investigation began in early July when authorities received reports of a foul odor emanating from the building. During the inspection, police discovered several unrefrigerated bodies in various stages of decomposition. Disturbingly, some of these bodies had been stored at the funeral home as early as March 2022.
During the court proceedings, Judge N. Lisa Glickfield sentenced Lankford to a 12-year term, four years of which are to be served in custody and the remaining eight years under home incarceration. As part of the plea deal, Lankford was released to home incarceration on Friday. Notably, the deal also waived his right to appeal against the more than 40 counts of felony theft charges.
As part of his sentencing, Lankford has been ordered to pay $46,000 in restitution to the 53 families affected by his actions. The restitution hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on June 23. Family members of the victims will have the opportunity to share prepared statements and may also file contingent claims for additional restitution, up to a maximum of $1,000 each.
Clark County lead prosecutor Jeremy Mull acknowledged the complexities involved in dealing with the multitude of charges against Lankford, which were further compounded by the backlog of cases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mull expressed hope that reducing the charges would provide immediate relief to the affected families, allowing them to obtain some semblance of justice.
Among those affected by Lankford’s actions is Cynthia Cape of Louisville, who employed Lankford’s services for her husband’s funeral arrangements. Cape received her husband’s cremated ashes a year after his death due to DNA testing delays. While she was disappointed by Lankford’s home incarceration, she found some solace in finally receiving her husband’s remains.
Derrick Kessinger, who entrusted the remains of three of his loved ones, including his father and fiancée, to Lankford’s funeral home, expressed shock at the terms of the plea deal. Despite this, he felt some relief knowing that the legal process was nearing its end. Kessinger, a father of two young sons, appeared indifferent to the restitution money.
