Funeral house suspension: uncared for physique, homeless presence and ‘altered’ conduct

A West Virginia funeral house is being suspended following allegations of abuse of a corpse, homeless individuals residing on website and the arrest of the operator in an “altered psychological state.”

Hunter Anderson Funeral House of Berkeley Springs was suspended this week by the state’s licensing board.

The motion adopted separate however associated police investigations. John A. Anderson, the only license holder for the family-owned funeral house, has had his license suspended due to “speedy hazard to the general public.”

A person who answered the phone on the Morgan County funeral house in the present day stated “It’s all unfounded. We’re nonetheless doing enterprise as at all times.”

The person, who recognized himself as Bob Manville, acknowledged the belief that grieving households place in funeral houses over a few years. He contended the funeral house has accomplished nothing unsuitable.

“The one factor I can let you know is the criticism registered in opposition to Hunter Anderson was a disgruntled criticism,” he stated. “It was with a disgruntled one that didn’t suppose the state moved quick sufficient with a loss of life certificates.”

The accusations in opposition to the funeral house are broader and extra stunning than that, although.

The funeral house and its operator face three allegations that have been investigated by the State Police and native sheriff’s deputies, beginning in July.

The primary was an unrefrigerated corpse improperly preserved for about 12 days, in accordance with a criticism initiated by the West Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners.

“It’s not true. The place the place they’ve the physique is the best place within the funeral house,” stated the person on the funeral house in the present day.

The following was an allegation that the operator allowed homeless individuals to stay within the funeral house, together with the potential for drug use.

Every of these is underneath investigation by the State Police. A consultant this week stated the investigation’s conclusion is topic to completion of lab outcomes.

John Anderson additionally faces three criminal charges which have been filed already in Justice of the Peace court docket in Berkeley County. They embrace obstructing justice, driving on a revoked license and trespassing.

All three got here from an arrest that occurred August 9 when a deputy with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Division was known as to Air Nationwide Guard property. The officer approached a truck and found a person within the driver’s seat with no pants, in accordance with a legal criticism.

The deputy wrote that the person, later recognized as John Anderson, tried to drive away or stroll away a number of occasions. The deputy then ran a preliminary breath take a look at that returned a results of 0.

“Through the statement interval the accused continued to make statements that indicated he had an altered psychological standing of some variety,” the deputy wrote.

Safety personnel on the Air Guard facility later instructed the investigating officer that the person already had been ordered off the property a number of occasions, however that he refused to go away.

John Anderson has been director on the funeral house since 1980, in accordance with the business’s website. His dad and mom, Charles and Marge Lee Anderson, based the Anderson Funeral House in Cameron, Marshall County, in 1960.

The funeral house in Berkeley Springs dates to 1883. One of many founders was Charles E. Hunter, and the funeral house stayed in that household into the Nineteen Seventies.

In 1972, father and son Charles and John Anderson bought the funeral house, including that household identify to Hunter’s. In 1998, John bought his father’s share.

The West Virginia Board of Funeral Examiners, made up of representatives of the state’s funeral house companies, met in an emergency session earlier this week. About an hour of the assembly occurred in closed, govt session. Members emerged and handled motions to droop the funeral house licensing “all for the necessity to shield the general public.”

A written order on behalf of the board known as for John Anderson to give up his licenses instantly.  An administrative listening to over the allegations can be set for a later date.

The calendar on the funeral home’s internet page reveals no exercise for July or April. The latest obituaries listed on the web page are from April, Might and June.

However the website invitations individuals to plan a service: “We’re right here to assist.”

“Ceremonies as distinctive because the life you’re remembering.”