‘Unconscionable’ body overflow at funeral home prompts probe

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Funeral Home
Workers move bodies to a refrigerated truck from the Andrew T. Cleckley Funeral Home in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Police responded to a report of human bodies in vehicles, which they determined were connected to the nearby funeral home. The New York Police Department notified the state Department of Health, which oversees funeral homes. The coronavirus pandemic has overrun most funeral homes and morgues in New York City. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

NEW YORK (AP) -State officials are investigating a New York City funeral home that resorted to storing dozens of bodies on ice in rented trucks after it was overwhelmed by coronavirus deaths.

Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said Thursday that the funeral home in Brooklyn could face civil fines and suspensions.

Authorities responding to complaints by passersby about a bad smell there Wednesday found that the home had rented four trucks to hold about 50 corpses.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the actions of funeral home officials “unconscionable.” Messages were left Thursday with Andrew T. Cleckley, the owner of the funeral home.

New York City funeral homes have struggled in the city since late March as the number of fatalities linked to the virus has topped 18,000.

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