Embalming rooms labeled “horror scenes,” corpses misidentified, and bodies buried before death certificates were filed — those were just a few of the red flags in New York’s funeral industry, according to a new state audit reported by the Times Union.
From 2019 to 2023, more than 2,500 deaths were registered after burial, with unlicensed funeral directors and expired permits flagged in multiple cases. In some instances, staff skipped required checks for signs of life before declaring someone dead.
The audit slammed both state and NYC health departments for weak oversight, outdated practices, and lack of inspections — prompting promises of tighter rules, new investigations, and stricter enforcement going forward.
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