Families Sue Owners of Pueblo Funeral Home After 24 Bodies Found in Hidden Room

Overview

• Three families filed a Pueblo District Court lawsuit after learning relatives were among 24 decomposing bodies recovered at Davis Mortuary in August.
• Soledad Cordova, an infant, and adults Melvin Emerson and Carl Walker were publicly identified by plaintiffs who say they were told cremations occurred years ago.
• Defendants include Brian and Chris Cotter, multiple Davis Mortuary entities, and the Pueblo Masonic Temple Annex Association, which owns the building leased to the mortuary.
• The complaint alleges fraudulent cremains, refusal to allow viewings, improper Medicaid billing, and a claim that landlords should have detected persistent decomposition odors.
• CBI says it found 24 bodies behind a hidden door, has identified six so far, completed evidence collection, returned the property to the Masons, and will await identifications before any charging decision.