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KANSAS CITY, MO. – A Jackson County Circuit Court Judge today finds it would be a public risk if a Westport funeral home stays open.
He lifted a stay of an earlier order allowing Marts Memorial Services to stay open during an investigation. KCUR's Dan Verbeck reports it will close March 11th.
A report to Judge Dale Youngs said bodies were stored without proper refrigeration, advance funeral payments had vanished and records were missing.
Ronald Marts' lawyer portrayed his client as a man trying to help the poor and will appeal to the regulation board to keep his personal license.
Travis Ford with the Missouri Board of Embalmers was at today's Kansas City hearing and says people who had funerals with the Westport Road firm need to change arrangements immediately--"or if they have any business planned with Mr. Marts after March 11th. And he has a responsibility as well."
The license lifting is uncommon. Ford says it only happens about once a year in the entire State of Missouri.