Stockpiling of Cremated Remains Alleged

The state is investigating allegations that an Anaheim mortuary firm stockpiled dozens of boxes of cremated remains that it had been hired to scatter in the ocean.

Investigators with the Department of Consumer Affairs raided the offices of Southwest Mortuary Service this week, seizing metal bins containing the remains of more than 40 people, officials said.

Nancy Hardaker, a spokeswoman for the state agency, declined to provide details of the inquiry, except to say that “we’re taking these allegations very seriously.”

Mark Botta, who owns the mortuary, described the investigation as a “setup” orchestrated by several employees who have recently demanded pay raises.

“Somebody is out to get me,” said Botta, whose firm employs about 40 people to transport cadavers from clients’ homes to mortuaries.

About 20 bins seized by authorities Wednesday contained the remains of people who donated their bodies to the UC Irvine College of Medicine for research. The university’s Willed Body Program has a contract with Southwest Mortuary Service to scatter ashes in the Pacific.

Dr. Richard Robertson, chairman of UCI’s Department of Anatomy, said university officials called state investigators Wednesday after one of Botta’s employees reported that ashes from some people were being stockpiled at the Anaheim site.

“These allegations are very disturbing,” Robertson said. “When people donate their bodies to the [university], they have every reason to expect their bodies will be respectfully cared for.”

Botta said state investigators showed up at his office Wednesday morning and told him about allegations that he had been stockpiling cremated remains.

He said he gave investigators permission to search the premises, but they didn’t find anything suspicious. Then an investigator used a cellular phone to call up an informant, who apparently directed him to a specific room in the building, Botta said.

There, he found containers and documents showing that some of the bodies had been cremated up to 14 years ago.

Botta said he didn’t know that those cremated remains were on his premises.

Noting that Southwest had been in business for only four years and its contract with UCI began 18 months ago, Botta asked, “Why would I have ashes that are from people who died 14 years ago?”

Botta said he is planning to consult an attorney about the investigation into his mortuary business.

He said he had violated no laws because there is no specific time limit to dispose of cremated remains.

The investigation into Southwest Mortuary is the latest in a series of legal problems that have beset Botta.

A cash-flow problem caused Southwest Mortuary to file for bankruptcy protection last May, according to Botta.