The owners of a now-defunct Pueblo funeral home, where investigators found 24 decomposing bodies behind a hidden door, were arrested Thursday.
Brian Cotter, 64, and Christoper Cotter, 60, each face 152 felony charges for abuse of a human tissue, forgery and theft. The brothers also face nine counts of misdemeanor theft.
The charges mark a turning point in a 22-month investigation into Davis Mortuary after a surprise inspection by state regulators. The inspection was the first required under a law passed in 2024 that overhauled state oversight of funeral homes.
In addition to the bodies, investigators found 83 cremains, 16 sets of bones and two containers of human tissue representing an unknown number of deceased individuals, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Nineteen bodies have been identified and investigators will continue to work to identify the remaining five.
“The evidence uncovered during this investigation reveals a complete disregard for the dignity of the deceased and the trust placed in Davis Mortuary by families in our community,” Armando Saldate, CBI director, said at a news conference Thursday. “We are committed to ensuring that those responsible for these actions are held accountable.”
Brian Cotter served as Pueblo County’s coroner from 2014 until he resigned in August, shortly after investigators discovered the bodies. Since then, several families have sued Davis Mortuary, alleging the funeral home violated their trust by failing to treat their loved ones’ remains with dignity and respect.
The 27 theft charges allege the brothers misappropriated money from pre-need funeral contracts, which allow people to pay in advance for funeral services before they die.
Tenth Judicial District Attorney Kala Beauvais on Thursday recognized families and communities desire for “swift justice” but warned that the court process will be “lengthy” without providing a specific timeline.
CBI had said it would take many months for criminal charges to be filed, saying they were waiting for all bodies to be identified before doing so, even though Colorado law does not require identification for abuse of corpse charges to be filed. The identification of the 19 bodies helped CBI investigate theft and forgery charges, Beauvais said.
On Thursday, a judge set bond for the brothers at $1 million. Court records show Brian and Christopher Cotter are scheduled to appear at 2:30 p.m. Friday in Pueblo County Court.
Under Colorado law, a class 5 felony is punishable by up to three years in prison, while a class 6 felony carries a maximum sentence of 18 months. Each Cotter brother is charged with 134 counts of a class 6 felony and 18 counts of a class 5 felony.
“While significant work remains, my office is fully committed to pursuing accountability,” Beauvais said. “Our ultimate priority is to ensure lawful justice for the victims and their families.”