The saga of Richardson Mortuary continues to unfold with the Texas Funeral Service Commission now having stepped in to stop the facility from operating amidst serious health and safety concerns. After a viral video surfaced depicting the mortuary's disturbing conditions, the state took action. According to a report by Click2Houston, the Houston-based mortuary has been failing to fully comply with the state mandates, including the handling of decomposing bodies. The report also details an incident involving a mortuary employee assaulting a person, resulting in a hospitalization due to a stab wound.
In the wake of the viral video that brought to light the neglect and the subsequent altercation, Richardson Mortuary has effectively been closed, with no plans to reopen. This decision follows the partial submission of documents to the Texas Funeral Service Commission, with owners Michael Richardson and Gayle Bell citing health challenges as a barrier to full compliance. In a statement obtained by KHOU, Rick Detoto, the attorney representing Michael Richardson, conveyed his client's devastation over the situation, stating, "He is very sorry for the delay. He's very sorry for their appeared lack of communication."
Specific violations noted by the Texas Funeral Service Commission include the decedent's bodies that were found on-site, leading to an abrupt transfer of those in the mortuary's care to other facilities just days before the cease-and-desist order. The landlord's termination of the mortuary's lease has now barred the business from its premises. The ongoing investigation by the TFSC, as mentioned by Click2Houston, includes a review of partial service records and the decedents' list as well as coordination with their next of kin.
Houston Police took charge of 89 sets of cremated remains in an effort to reunite them with families; some waits have reportedly extended up to two years. "Yeah, definitely. There was somebody in charge. And we're not prepared to talk about that or tell you that publicly. But I do know there's a back story," said Detoto, implying that someone else may have been overseeing operations while Richardson was incapacitated, as highlighted in the comments made during the KHOU interview.
Families with concerns about the handling of their loved ones have been urged to reach out to Detective J.P. Varela at the Houston Police Department. For anyone else with pertinent information regarding the case or needing assistance, the Texas Funeral Service Commission remains open for contact through email and phone.
