Funeral director Randy Lankford pleads guilty to felony theft charges after the discovery of decomposing bodies at his Indiana funeral home.
Who is Randy Lankford?
Randy Lankford, the owner of Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana, has recently pleaded guilty to over 40 counts of felony theft. The shocking discovery of 31 decomposing bodies and 17 sets of cremains at his funeral home led to an extensive investigation by Jeffersonville Police.
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The charges against Lankford stem from his failure to fulfill the funeral services that he was paid for, leaving 53 families without proper closure. As a result, he has been ordered to pay restitution totaling $46,000 to these families. Clark County Circuit Court Judge N. Lisa Glickfield proposed a sentence of 12 years, consisting of four years in prison and eight years of home incarceration for Lankford.
The investigation into Lankford Funeral Home began when the county coroner’s office detected a strong odor emanating from the premises.
The shocking discovery of unrefrigerated bodies in various stages of decomposition revealed a disturbing disregard for the deceased and their grieving families. Some of the bodies had been stored at the funeral home since March, indicating a prolonged neglect of proper funeral practices.
Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull expressed the complexity of the case, highlighting the multitude of charges against Lankford and the challenges posed by court backlogs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the difficulties, Mull emphasized the state’s commitment to delivering justice to the affected families.
One individual, Derrick Kessinger, attended the court hearing and shared his forgiveness towards Lankford, despite the pain and distress caused by the mishandling of his loved ones’ remains. Kessinger’s experience reflects the emotional toll inflicted upon the families involved.
As the formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 23, the guilty plea from Randy Lankford marks an important step towards holding him accountable for his actions and providing closure to the families affected by this disturbing case.
