Funeral home with 'green' burials accused of improperly storing bodies amid 'putrid smell'

Back to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado Photo: The Gazette

Green burial funeral home being built in Colorado police were investigating alleged improper storage of bodies, and neighbors reported the site smelled like a «dead animal.»

Back to Nature Funeral Home is under investigation for allegedly improperly storing human remains after advertising » nothing at all» burials without coffins and shrouds.

Neighbors said they believed the «putrid odor» in the area came from a septic tank or a dead animal, the Associated Press reported.

A funeral home in Penrose, Colorado, was raided Tuesday and investigators later found improperly stored human remains, the Fremont County Sheriff's Office said.

Under Colorado law, green burial is legal, but it is subject to state code. requires that any body not buried within 24 hours be properly refrigerated.

Fremont County deputies secure the road, leading to the funeral Home Photo: The Gazette

Local residents said they «just assumed it was a dead animal» but became concerned after seeing police lights in the area.

Neighbor Ron Alexander said that, in his opinion, the smell in the area came from the septic tank.

Return to Nature Funeral Home provides burial of unembalmed bodies in biodegradable caskets, shrouds or «nothing else.» everything,” according to his website.

“No embalming fluids, no concrete vaults. As natural as possible,” the website says.

For “natural burial” the company charges $1,895 (£1,556). The price does not include the cost of a casket and cemetery plot.

The funeral home also provides cremations that do not use any chemicals or unnatural materials — «just you and the Earth, returning to nature,» according to the website. website.

Green burials refer to the burial of bodies that were not embalmed.

The sheriff's office said it is working with state and federal authorities on the investigation.

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Family members who used the funeral home's services were asked to contact police.

Authorities are expected to provide more details at a press conference on Friday.