Funeral Home Accused Of Abusing Corpse

GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) - A Gadsden funeral director is facing a
felony charge after police found a woman's decomposing body in the
back of a hearse.
Police said 76-year-old Harold Watson Sr. was charged Tuesday
with abusing a corpse. He's the owner of Watson and Sons Funeral
Home in Gadsden.
Police said Edna Kathleen Woods died of natural causes in
November 2007 at the age of 52. Relatives said they wanted her
remains cremated.
But police say the family never signed papers for a cremation or
paid the funeral home. So the owner allegedly put the body in the
back of a hearse recently and parked it on a lot with other old
vehicles.
Someone complained about a foul odor, leading officers to
discover the decomposing remains.

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