31 decomposed bodies found in Indiana funeral home

Jeffersonville police are investigating the discovery of 31 bodies, some decomposing, on Friday inside a southern Indiana funeral home.

Officers found the bodies at Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center, "some of which were in advanced stages of decomposition," Major Isaac Parker confirmed in a statement cited by the Louisville Courier Journal.

Parker said that the Coroner's Office had reported a strong odor emanating from the funeral home. Inside, officials discovered bodies in different locations throughout the facility. They also found cremated remains of 16 people, the media outlet continued. 

"It was a very unpleasant scene," Parker noted. "The conditions were not good."

The remains of the bodies were taken to the Clark County Coroner's Office to be identified. Police asked anyone who may have information to contact them.

A woman who sent her brother's body to the funeral home for cremation after his death in April told WHAS-TV that she had yet to receive the remains.

The funeral home owner claimed he "fell behind in processing the bodies," WDRB reported on Saturday, citing an unidentified source.

Although Parker claimed that no one has been charged with a crime, Jeffersonville Police, the Clark County Sheriff's Department and the Indiana State Police are maintaining an ongoing investigation.

"We are working with the Clark County Prosecutor's Office to ensure that the investigation is efficient and successful," Parker said.