Four of the 24 decomposing bodies found at now former Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter’s Davis Mortuary have been identified, authorities announced Tuesday.

Family notifications are underway, and no identification details will be made public out of respect and privacy of the families, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

The bureau said that further identification of the bodies found at Davis Mortuary could take a “significant” amount of time.

Discovery at Pueblo mortuary renews concerns over state's funeral home industry

Everything we know so far

The 24 bodies were found inside a hidden room at Cotter’s privately-owned mortuary at 128 Broadway Ave. after state inspectors came to the business unprompted for a mandatory annual inspection on Aug. 20.

Inspectors went into the mortuary and smelled a “strong odor of decomposition,” later noticing a door hidden by a cardboard display that revealed the bodies.

At the time, Cotter allegedly told inspectors that some of the bodies had been in the room for about 15 years and that some next-of-kin had been given fake ashes.

Days later, a search by the bureau, the lead investigative agency, would uncover multiple containers of bones and several containers of “probable human tissue” that belong to an unknown number of the dead. 

Since the grisly discovery, the business, which was bought in 1989 by Cotter and his brother, Chris, has been under summary suspension.

The Cotter brothers are under criminal investigation and have yet to face charges. Officials said in a press conference on Aug. 22 that charges may only come after the investigation is completed, which could take months.

Investigators executed search warrants at the Cotters’ homes days after the press conference. What was found inside the houses has yet to be released to the public.

Brian Cotter’s resignation came over a week after the discovery and followed numerous officials calling for his removal, including Gov. Jared Polis, who also issued a disaster declaration for the county.

The El Paso and Fremont county coroner’s offices have been handling the responsibilities of the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office while the Pueblo County Board of Commissioners find a replacement.  

'At least 189' bodies taken from Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose

The state inspection happened this year because of the Sunset Continue Mortuary Science Code Regulation bill (HB24-1335) that Polis signed into law in May 2024. 

Prior to the bill, the funeral home industry was largely unregulated, Polis said .

There have been multiple cases of Colorado funeral homes being caught mishandling or abusing corpses. Davis Mortuary is the second high-profile case that’s happened in southern Colorado, following the discovering of almost 200 decomposing bodies inside the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose that led to the convictions of the two co-owners, Jon and Carie Hallford. 

Since the bill’s passing, there have been 193 inspections completed, and there are 95 left, a spokesperson for the Department of Regulatory Agencies told The Gazette in late August. There has been one suspension, one revocation, 14 letters of admonition and 57 letters of concern issued to Colorado funeral homes that were a result of complaints and inspections since May 2024, the spokesperson said.

As the investigation continues, the bureau has created a dedicated victim assistance line at 719-257-3359 and an email at CBITips@state.co.us for families who may have used the mortuary’s services. The bureau is also asking affected families to fill out a questionnaire to assist in the investigative process. 

24 bodies plus containers of bones and 'probable human tissue' found in Davis Mortuary