A long-time funeral home in South Hadley, Massachusetts has closed and its owner suspended following the discovery of several decomposing bodies.
Investigators came to the Ryder Funeral Home last week and found at least six bodies in various stages of decomposition that had not been properly embalmed, stored or labeled. That’s according to an order by the state’s Division of Professional Licensure. As a result, state regulators immediately shut down the home and suspended the license of funeral director William Ryder. State officials are not commenting on the probe, but Steven Gagne, Assistant D-A at the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, says they are closely monitoring the situation.
“It’s clearly a disturbing situation. I can certainly understand why folks who’ve trusted the Ryder Home over the years are certainly concerned by these allegations. And we’re very glad that the Division of Professional Licensure is moving as swiftly as they are,” he says.
A hearing on the license suspension is scheduled for Friday in Boston. Calls to the funeral home, which has been operating in South Hadley since 1953, were not returned.