Accident – Death – Obituary News : Arrest Warrant Issued for Owner of Colorado Funeral Home Accused of Mishandling Remains
An arrest warrant has been issued for the owner of a Colorado funeral home after authorities discovered the cremated remains of at least 30 people in a house he was renting, as well as a dead woman’s body in a hearse. Miles Harford, the owner of the now-closed Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services in Littleton, Colorado, is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Denver Police Department.
The investigation into Harford began when the property owner of the house he was renting reported finding boxes of cremated remains while cleaning the space. Denver police and medical officials were called to the scene on the morning of February 6th. During their inspection, they not only discovered the cremated remains but also found the body of a woman inside a hearse on the property.
The woman’s body has since been identified as a 63-year-old who died of natural causes in August 2022. Her family was devastated to learn that they had been given the wrong remains, as they had believed they had received their loved one’s ashes. This discovery has led investigators to believe that Harford may have given other families incorrect remains as well.
Commander Matt Clark of the Denver Police Department expressed sympathy for the affected families, stating, “They’re shocked. They believed that they were processing their grief with the remains that they had and had had services with that. And then they come to find out that that was not the person that was processed, and in fact, she was being held in that hearse there.”
Harford, who is believed to be in the Denver area, now faces charges of abuse of a corpse, forgery of a death certificate, and theft. It is suspected that financial troubles may have played a role in his actions.
The case of Miles Harford is not an isolated incident in Colorado. The state currently lacks routine inspections or qualification requirements for funeral home operators, leaving room for potential mishandling of remains. In October, over 115 improperly stored bodies were discovered in another Colorado funeral home, while in November, a married couple was arrested for abandoning nearly 200 bodies in a bug-infested facility.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann acknowledged the need for legislation to require licensing and supervision of funeral homes, stating, “It’s my understanding that there is legislation being proposed and contemplated to require licensing and supervision of funeral homes.”
The Denver Police Department is urging any former clients of Harford’s funeral home who have concerns to contact them at 720-913-6610. Additionally, anyone with information on the case is encouraged to reach out to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.
While the investigation into Harford’s actions continues, the medical examiner’s office has decided not to conduct DNA tests on the remains due to the difficulty of extracting samples from ashes. However, it is anticipated that additional charges may be filed as more information about Harford’s operations comes to light.
This shocking incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper regulation and oversight within the funeral home industry. It is crucial to ensure that grieving families can trust that their loved ones are handled with the utmost care and respect during their final journey..