Here is the backstory on this:
Police have positively identified five bodies found at a Pocatello funeral home, are working to identify seven others and have turned over the remains of approximately 50 fetuses to the Ada County Coroner in an ongoing investigation.
Last week, officials searched Downard Funeral Home after receiving a report of a decomposing body at the business. Further investigation turned up more bodies, and neighbors told EastIdahoNews.com that a foul smell had been coming from the building for some time.
The Pocatello Police Department said Monday it is working with another local funeral home and the Bannock County Coroner’s Office to contact family members of the deceased.
“At this time, detectives believe that decedents who were scheduled to be buried were buried, and the unidentified individuals that were found had been scheduled for cremation,” a news release said. “The remains of approximately 50 fetuses found at the scene are now in the custody of the Ada County Coroner for further investigation. Detectives are awaiting the results from the Ada County Coroner’s investigation to determine the exact number of fetuses.”
Police have received hundreds of tips and requests for information since news broke Friday that multiple decomposing bodies and fetuses were found inside Downard Funeral Home. The business was previously in charge of donating cadavers to Idaho State University for scientific study but the relationship ended last year after the university had stopped receiving donations for a period of time.
In the process of ending the relationship, the university discovered some families believed the remains of their loved ones had already been donated. However, the university had no record of ever receiving those bodies.
PART 2 WAIT UNTIL YOU READ THIS:
POCATELLO, Idaho — Police say the remains of roughly 50 fetuses found at a Pocatello funeral home were part of a biological collection that Idaho State University provided to the funeral home for cremation in 2017.
The fetuses and at least 12 other decomposing bodies were discovered at the Downard Funeral Home after a state health inspector alerted police. Investigators have been working to identify the remains.
The Idaho State Journal reports ISU spokesperson Stuart Summers says the fetuses were part of a decades-old biology collection showing fetal development.
Police have identified about half of the bodies found at the home so far.
HOLY CRAP! FROM 2017? 5 YEARS AGO?
PART 3:
POCATELLO — Investigators have completed searching Downard Funeral Home and are no longer at the property.
Pocatello city spokesman Logan McDougall said detectives continue to process evidence, review documents, and interview those who may have information about the case.
McDougall confirmed during a search of the building, officers discovered multiple unrefrigerated bodies in various states of decomposition, including some that were badly decomposed. Human fetuses were also discovered on the premises.
Police have not provided a total body count, or given any sort of explanation about why the bodies were decomposing or why fetuses were on the property.
So far, no one has been arrested in connection with this case.
The Downard Funeral Home is owned by Pocatello resident Lance Peck and his wife. Peck has a history of licensing violations, which are detailed here.
Additionally, Downard Funeral Home was previously in charge of donating cadavers to Idaho State University for scientific study. This relationship ended last year though, after the university did not receive donations for a period of time.
In the process of ending the relationship, the university discovered some families believed the remains of their loved ones had already been donated. However, the university had no record of ever receiving those bodies.
Following an internal audit of all records and dealings with Downard, which “indicated multiple causes for concern,” ISU filed formal complaints with the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, Pocatello Police and Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
Crews from Pocatello Fire and EMS arrived at Downard Thursday night, following reports of a foul stench emanating from the building. Pocatello police officers served a search warrant Friday morning, and began methodically removing bodies from inside the facility to a refrigerated trailer provided by the Ada County Coroner’s Office.
Pocatello police confirm some of the bodies found inside the funeral home have been positively identified and moved to other local funeral homes, who are attempting to contact next of kin.
