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Woman's 'unrecognisable' body discovered in funeral home three years after she was meant to have been cremated

Individuals responsible have been reported to law enforcement and an investigation is ongoing

Alex Matthews-King
Sunday 25 February 2018 13:13 GMT
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Ms Pitts Moore's family believed their loved one had been cremated following her death in 2015 (file image)
Ms Pitts Moore's family believed their loved one had been cremated following her death in 2015 (file image) (Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

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The “unrecognisable” body of a woman has been discovered at a South Carolina funeral home, three years after she was meant to have been cremated.

A complaint about the excessive amount of time the body had been stored for was filed by a former employee, sparking an investigation by the coroner’s office.

Spartanburg County Coroner, Rusty Clevenger, said they had since identified the woman as 63-year-old Mary Alice Pitts Moore, who died of natural causes in March 2015.

Mr Clevenger said the family had been informed on Friday and the identities of those responsible have been passed to police, though there was no information on possible charges.

“They are understandably upset at the revelation since her final disposition was to be cremated in 2015,” Mr Clevenger said in a news release.

“I will be exploring legal means to have her families wishes carried out for final rest. I have been contacted by SLED officials and the State Attorney General about this case and I will be providing any info my office may have.”

Ms Pitts Moore’s family have met with representatives of the funeral home in Greenwood.

The complaint filed to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation led to investigators from the Department and coroner’s office discovering the body being stored at the funeral home.

It is unclear whether the family were given what they believed to be Ms Pitts Moore's remains following her death or whether a ceremony of any kind was held.

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