Miss. crematory owner loses licenses to operate

The state on Thursday revoked the licenses of a crematorium accused of inappropriately disposing of human remains.

The Mississippi Board of Funeral Service pulled the licenses of crematory owner Mark Seepe for failing to provide documents, including cremation and embalming logs and proof his crematory chamber had been fixed, officials said.

In March, a former employee released photos taken inside Seepe Funeral Home and Crematorium that appeared to show human bones and ash being commingled and heaped into a 55-gallon barrel. The photos also showed a large hole in the bottom of the crematory retort _ the actual chamber where cremations take place.

The Associated Press went to the crematorium March 27 and found what appeared to be bone fragments in the trash bin. Authorities later confirmed the fragments were human bone.

Seepe's lawyer, Tom Royals, and officials from the state attorney general's office, which represents the state board, met Wednesday to discuss a possible agreement for a partial revocation of the licensees.

But board members refused to go into executive session Thursday to discuss the agreement, leaving Royals saying he felt blind-sided.

"They double-crossed me," Royals said, adding that he would file an appeal, likely through the court system.

Seepe did not comment.

Some relatives of people who had been cremated at Seepe's business celebrated the board's decision.

"I don't want him ever doing business in this state again," said LeiAn Adams of Brandon, whose brother was cremated by Seepe in 2004.

Adams said she's not sure the cremated remains she received belonged to her brother because there was no tag or label on the box she received.

The state attorney general is also conducting a criminal investigation into the crematorium, agency spokeswoman Jan Schaefer said.