Colorado funeral home director sentenced to 40 years for corpse abuse

The Colorado funeral home director, Megan Hess, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for abusing corpses in her care. The investigation began after officials detected a foul smell and discovered nearly 200 decaying bodies at the Return to Nature funeral home. Hess had been operating the funeral home without a proper license and had been mishandling the remains of the deceased. She was found guilty of mail fraud and transporting hazardous materials, as well as abusing corpses. The case has shocked the local community and raised concerns about the regulation and oversight of the funeral industry. The judge described the crimes as "breathtakingly disturbing" and imposed a lengthy prison sentence to hold Hess accountable for her actions. This case highlights the importance of ensuring that funeral homes and their directors are held to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics when entrusted with the remains of the deceased.