More Unwanted Attention: Maryland Crematory Shuttered After Horrific Discoveries
It’s been a tough few years for deathcare on the public relations front, with the worst of the bad actors initiating global scandals from Colorado and Georgia, even as the other 99.9% of the profession exceptionally and ethically serve families every minute of every day. Unfortunately, it looks like that trend may continue into the near future, as a new report about ongoing issues with improper dispositions is raising questions about how these problems continue to arise.
Operations at a Maryland crematory have been suspended and the owners are being investigated for allowing multiple bodies in their care to decompose. On January 23, 2025, the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors took emergency action to stop Heaven Bound Cremation Services in Charles County from operating after a January 10 inspection found 11 issues ranging from an inoperable retort to three decomposing bodies — one of which had been in the facility since a March 2024 inspection.
Eight rocky years
As more information is released about the continuing issues with this facility since its opening, it’s inevitable that people will question how it was allowed to continue operating.
The Baltimore Banner reports that the crematory was given a 10-year state permit in December 2016, but had been on probation “for much of the time since for poor practices.”
According to the Order for Summary Suspension issued by the Maryland State Board last week, complaints about improper dispositions began in 2017, with a 2019 complaint about commingled and improperly stored cremated remains resulting in Rosa Williams, who co-owns the business with Brandon Williams, being placed on probation for one year. She was ordered to complete an ethics course and practice under a supervisory mentor. After finding that she had not complied with the order, the state board initiated random inspections of the facility in 2021.
It was during one of these unannounced visits in March 21, 2024 that, says the order, an inspector found “human bodies in cardboard boxes stacked on top of each other with no support between the boxes; human bodies in ripped body bags with arms and legs hanging out of the body bags; human remains that were not stored at temperatures below 40F; and blood on the refrigeration unit and bodily fluids on the floor.”
In September 2024, the board placed the crematory operator registrations of both Rosa and Brandon Williams on probation for a minimum of two years “with conditions” that each “complete recertification through a nationally recognized organization that offers crematory operator training courses and pay a $2,000 fine.” Rosa Williams’ crematory operator registration was also suspended for 10 days.
The January 2025 inspection
Sadly, these sanctions seem to have made no impact on these owners’ practices, as another inspection on January 10, 2025 found many of the same issues uncovered a year earlier.
“Human remains are currently being improperly stored on the premises rather than being cremated,” summarizes the order. “The premises are overcrowded with human remains. Bodies have been observed stacked one on top of the other, stored uncovered, and in a state of apparent decomposition. Dried blood has been observed on the floor, along with other fluids. The improper storage of human remains on the premises endangers the health of occupants and employees of the building.”
Details in the order reveal that “at least 18 bodies” were not stored at a proper temperature, there were “three visibly decomposing bodies,” and “one of the visibly decomposing bodies has been in the facility since the March 21, 2024 inspection.”
Based on the January 10 findings, the board issued the Order for Summary Suspension on January 14, concluding that these investigative findings endanger the “public health, safety or welfare” and required “emergency action.” The board suspended the crematory permit of Heaven Bound Cremation Services, offering the owners the opportunity to request a hearing within 30 days.
What about the families?
While the reporting on this unfolding investigation has focused on the facility and its owners, it can be expected that the families whose loved ones have been involved in this tragic treatment will likely make their voices heard.
On January 22, one such family member posted the following message to the r/askfuneraldirectors subReddit:
My dad died in December. He was to be cremated in a crematory in Baltimore, MD. After a month with no word after trying to contact them I was told his body was taken by the MD state anatomy board due the crematory being shut down for whatever reason. I called the anatomy board and they say he’s not on the list they have and that they’d call back if another list pops up. I’m completely lost. Why would they shut down the crematory (truly afraid to know) and where the hell is my dad? If anyone knows what I can do next, I’d be happy to hear it.
UPDATE
I found out why they were shut down. Sadly, It’s just as horrible as you would imagine.
I got in touch with the MD Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors. The guy told me that Heaven Bound Cremation actually had cremated my father and still holds the remains. I would need to go down to their main site (I already went to their 2nd site and was told they had moved months prior) and ask for the remains back. So I drove the 40 mins only to find the door locked and the lights off. Called the board of morticians back and left a message. A news channel reached back out to me for an interview so that’s in the works. Thank you guys for your advice and support so far. Truly.
Another Redittor responded:
After reading this previous suit you linked, I’m speechless! This is criminal and not merely regulatory. This problem was identified as far back as 2017!!! Why was the state board not routinely inspecting for a period of time to ensure the problems originally identified were rectified?? How is not just the business, but the state and licensing/governing bodies not also liable after recognizing such serious problems and 🚩🚩🚩🚩them for routine inspection after the issues presented and allowing them to continue betraying the unknowing families entrusting their loved ones into their care?
No funeral home in the area identified a pattern??? Like once their descendents were transferred to this facility, they never received cremains back, and instead received a large number of families calling after fact wondering where their loved one’s remains were? Were they complicit? Were they paid off? It just doesn’t make sense.
Demand answers, demand accountability, demand the proper agencies and your government representatives step in to draft and pass law that prevents situations like this in the future.
These are questions that the deathcare community will, unfortunately and through no fault of their own, have to grapple with as more details emerge.
