A stabbing investigation is underway at Richardson Mortuary in southwest Houston following the discovery that multiple deceased bodies were reportedly kept in poor condition. The incident, which involved family members who were appalled by the state of their loved ones' bodies amid malfunctioning air conditioning, escalated to violence resulting in one individual being stabbed by a funeral home employee, as reported by Click2Houston.
According to Click2Houston, a family member documented the grim scene at the mortuary, revealing bodies in various states of presentation -- some inside caskets, others outside, with gnats visible on at least one. The relative, dismayed by their mother’s advanced decomposition, was allegedly stabbed during a confrontation that ensued after the footage was uploaded to social media. Houston police reported that a total of 10 bodies were found on the ground upon their arrival.
Meanwhile, KHOU shared the distraught reactions of other families who came forward after the video spread online. One woman, Murita Brown, recognized her grandmother and expressed her shock by saying, "It’s a shock because he took care of my grandfather in 2013 and he did an awesome job, but to fail us now." Her sentiment echoed the pain of others who found their loved ones in less than dignified conditions, forcing them to relive their grief.
Due to damage from Hurricane Beryl, bodies at Richardson Mortuary had to be moved to other funeral homes. The owner reportedly had a heart attack and is now in the hospital. A nearby funeral home, Bobby Swearington’s in Fort Bend County, is helping families during this time, as per KHOU. No charges have been filed, and the worker involved in a stabbing says it was self-defense. Authorities plan to investigate soon.
