Crematory gets license back after violations

A Carlisle crematory, CARLISLE — where a state inspector found 15 violations, including dead bodies not kept refrigerated, has had its license temporarily reinstated.

Premium Mortuary Services Inc., 510 Business Pkwy., had its license temporarily revoked earlier this month by the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors after the violations were found, including that the business failed to keep seven deceased human bodies, not yet embalmed, inside a working refrigerator.

The Crematory Review Board met last week and recommended that the suspension be lifted and made its recommendation to the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.

The board voted 5-0 to accept the recommendation, according to Dave Ingram, executive director of the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.

When asked why the crematory regained its license, Ingram would only say that “the state did not prove its case.”

Now that the crematory has regained its license, it will have “settlement discussions” with the state, according to Ingram. He refused to elaborate on the extent of that possible settlement.

The decision, he said, could be made at the next meeting of the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, which is set for Sept. 27 in Columbus. Ingram said he was unsure when the Carlisle facility would begin cremations again.

At least one family whose loved one was at the crematory has said Premium Mortuary Services should permanently lose its license.