40 Bodies Stacked in Funeral Home Garage, License Suspended Say Maryland Inspectors

RIVERDALE, Md. (CBS/AP) Maryland officials have suspended the license of a funeral home after an inspector found what appear to be 40 bodies intended for cremation, stacked in its garage.

According to the Baltimore Sun, in documents released by the state funeral board, an investigator at the Chambers Funeral Home & Crematorium noted a "large pile, approximately 12 by 12 feet, of body bags containing human remains strewn on the floor of the garage in front of a removal van. There was visible leakage from the body bags as well as a pungent odor."

"The investigator also observed writing on some of the body bags," the newspaper reported. Because of the leakage the writing was not legible, and as a result, it was not immediately possible to determine the identity of the remains," reported CNN.

The Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors says the Riverdale, Md. funeral home has until Friday to cremate the bodies. Then the funeral home will be closed.

The emergency license suspension also affects the funeral home's two morticians.

William Chambers, one of the funeral home's owners, tells The Baltimore Sun that he will fight the license suspension.