Board revokes license of Jeffersonville funeral home owner who stored decomposing bodies
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The Indiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service permanently revoked the license of Randy Lankford, owner of Lankford Funeral and Home and Family Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in early August after police found dozens of decomposing bodies stored at the facility in 2022.
The board voted unanimously for the revocation during a meeting on Aug. 3, according to a release from the Office of the Indiana Attorney General.
“This is one of the most egregious cases our office has seen in recent times,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “I’m proud that we were able to work together with local law enforcement to hold Mr. Lankford accountable and make sure he can never practice another funeral service in Indiana ever again.”
Lankford and the funeral home were charged with professional incompetence, failure to dispose of 31 bodies in a timely manner, storing cremains at the facility beyond the legally permitted period and related charges, the release stated.
Bodies in various states of decomposition — some possibly there since March 2022 — were found unrefrigerated at the facility, officials said.
“It’s hard to believe the appalling conditions at this funeral home,” Rokita said. “Hoosier families deserve to have their loved ones treated with dignity and respect by funeral homes and their employees.”
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Lankford pleaded guilty in Clark County Circuit Court to more than 40 felony theft charges and accepted a plea deal in May, per previous reporting. He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $46,000 to 53 families.
Rokita began an investigation into the funeral home in July 2022 after police found "horrifying conditions within the building," according to a release. He filed an administrative complaint with the board earlier this year.
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Reporter Caleb Wiegandt contributed. Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Randy Lankford has license permanently revoked by Indiana board
