During a routine inspection on August 20, 2025, Colorado state inspectors discovered around 24 decomposing bodies concealed behind a hidden door at Davis Mortuary in Pueblo, Colorado. The funeral home is co-owned by Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter.
Investigators found the bodies in a room obscured by a cardboard display. Cotter had requested that inspectors not enter the room, as recorded in state regulatory documents. Upon entry, inspectors noted a “strong odor of decomposition.”
Cotter informed inspectors that some of the bodies had been awaiting cremation for about 15 years and admitted that he might have provided families with fake cremated remains. The exact number of bodies remains unconfirmed, as investigators have not yet moved or counted all the remains.
Sam Delp, director of the Division of Professions and Occupations in the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, stated that investigators avoided disturbing the scene to get an accurate count. While a refrigeration unit appeared to be present, bodies were stored in a regular room, and it was unclear if the unit was operational.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is leading the criminal investigation. Director Armando Saldate described this as a significant breach of trust for the families who relied on the funeral home.
The state has suspended Davis Mortuary’s license due to violations, including dishonest conduct and improper handling of remains. The suspension prohibits the funeral home from operating legally in the state of Colorado.
This inspection was the first for Davis Mortuary under new regulations following Colorado’s 2024 funeral home reform legislation. Previously, inspections only occurred if complaints were filed, and Davis Mortuary had no prior complaints.
Cotter, a three-term Republican Pueblo County coroner since 2014, has not been arrested, and no charges have been filed as the investigation continues, according to Kala Beauvais, 10th Judicial District Attorney. Cotter and his brother, Chris, acquired the funeral home in 1989, continuing their family’s tradition of funeral home business.
The discovery occurs amid Colorado’s efforts to enhance oversight of the funeral industry following multiple scandals. The state had previously weak regulations, lacking routine inspections and qualification requirements for operators.
This case follows another significant funeral home abuse case in Colorado involving Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, about 30 miles from Pueblo, where nearly 200 decomposing bodies were found. Jon Hallford, one of the owners, faced court for 191 counts of corpse abuse on August 22.
In court, a judge rejected a plea deal for Hallford after families testified to the distress and humiliation experienced due to the neglected bodies of their loved ones.
The decision to reject the plea agreement, which proposed a 20-year prison term, followed compelling testimony from relatives seeking a harsher sentence.
Among them was Crystina Page, whose son, David Jaxon Page, was killed by police during a mental health crisis in 2019. His body remained at the funeral home while she unknowingly carried an urn without his ashes.
Hallford is already facing prison time on federal fraud charges. With the plea agreement rejected, the state criminal case starts anew. Hallford may withdraw his guilty plea or allow the judge to decide his sentence without a set outcome. He is scheduled to return to court on September 12.
Investigators from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, some of whom were involved in the Return to Nature case, executed search warrants at Davis Mortuary on Thursday. Colorado State Patrol hazardous materials operators assisted in evidence collection.
Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero confirmed that Cotter and his brother are not under arrest as the investigation proceeds. Officials emphasized the importance of gathering complete information before interviewing the funeral home operators.
In response, Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham, county commissioners, and Sheriff Lucero signed a joint emergency declaration to secure state resources for handling deaths in Pueblo County during the investigation.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has set up a tip line for families concerned about their loved ones’ remains at Davis Mortuary. For information, please call 719-257-3359 or email cbitips@state.co.us.
