UPDATE: South Carolina funeral home that cut corpse’s legs can stay open

UPDATE: South Carolina funeral home that cut corpse’s legs can stay open
AP and WAGT
Published: June 10, 2009
» 28 Comments | Post a Comment

UPDATE

A judge has decided a South Carolina funeral home where a worker was accused of cutting a corpse’s legs so he would fit in a casket can remain open as it appeals the revocation of its license.

The order issued Tuesday says funeral director Michael Cave and Cave Funeral Home in Allendale could suffer irreparable harm if they have to stay closed until the state Administrative Law Court can hear an appeal next week.

The state Funeral Board revoked Cave’s license on June 1 after he admitted an employee used an electric saw to cut the legs of 6-foot-7 James Hines after he died in 2004.

Hines’ widow says Cave apologized to her at that board hearing.


June 3rd story:

The South Carolina funeral board revoked the licenses of an Allendale funeral home and funeral director accused of cutting off the legs of a man too tall for his casket.

The Board of Funeral Service voted Monday to revoke the funeral director Michael Cave’s license and the license of Cave Funeral Services of Allendale after months of investigation.

According a document released by the South Carolina Department Of Labor and Licensing, a funeral home employee used an electric saw to cut off James Hines’ lower legs so he would fit in a casket that he was too tall for.

The body of James Hines was exhumed back in March after investigators acted on a tip that Hines legs were cut off in 2004 when he was buried.

The family requested a larger casket because Hines was 6’7” and couldn’t fit in a normal casket.

A former employee of Cave Funeral Services says Hines was too tall for the casket he paid for before his death and said the funeral home didn’t want to pay for a larger casket.

Hines’ widow, Ann, says the family is somewhat relieved the funeral home has been shutdown and the director’s license revoked, but they still wonder why it happened to their loved one.

For the first time since the rumors began almost five years ago, Ann says Cave Funeral Services apologized to her and the family for all they’ve had to go through.

The Board of Funeral Services fined Cave for the violation and he must also pay $1,500 for the investigation into his business.

Share This:

Email Facebook Delicious Digg Twitter Favorites More

Advertisement

 
View More: allendale funeral home,
Not what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
 

Advertisement

Reader Reactions

Flag Comment Posted by MGethers on June 18, 2009 at 9:42 am
I have read most of the comments that were left and some were fair and accurate and some were not. Being that I am a licensed funeral director, I wanted to add my two cents. If this man came in to pre-plan his funeral, it is obvious to anyone with 20/20 vision that this was a large man and was not going to fit in a regular size casket. If the funeral home did not have that type casket on hand, then that should have been explained to the man and they either show them a catalog or go online and show them the appropriate merchandise. Even if that wasn't done, when the man died, the funeral home should have stepped up and told the family again that the man would not fit in a regular size casket. If there was an issue with finances, the firm should have been the professionals and just order an oversize casket for the man and just take the loss. A loss there would have been better than going through what they are experiencing now. And to the comment about funeral directors being "crooks" (I'm paraphrasing), when you go to the department store or grocery store you pay for all of the items you purchase before leaving, right? There has always been a misconception in society about funeral directors having all this money. Come and take a look at most funeral homes and you will see that there are alot of clients who take us for a ride. It gets so bad that if a family owes one director, they will go to another one because they know they owe the first. Do your research before making such claims!
Flag Comment Posted by really on June 05, 2009 at 3:16 pm
It's really a cut and dry situation. When services were purchased in advance being the professional the funeral director should know that height and weight can be factors requiring different needs for caskets. If the funeral director did not ask the height and then say that a larger casket was needed and needed to be paid for, then that was an oversight by them with the initial contract and their fault. Being tall I am sure that the man was use to having to pay for non-standard things his whole life. If the funeral director did tell them up front that a longer casket was needed and for some reason the family did refuse to pay the higher price at the initial contract, then the funeral director should have looked at them and said, well he won't fit in a normal one, so what do you suggest? So I guess it's the funeral directors fault either way. Either by oversight or by entering into a contract he knew would pose a problem.
Flag Comment Posted by Mittmouhd on June 05, 2009 at 10:48 am
This is not new: The American Way of Death by Jessica Mitford AFTER HER BROTHER-in-law dies, a woman goes to a "reputable" undertaker to help out her now-widowed relative. seeking to save the widow on expenses, she picks out a very inexpensive casket made of redwood. Shortly thereafter, the funeral parlor calls to say that, unfortunately, the brother-in-law, because of his height, won't fit into the selected casket. It was nothing that a hundred dollars wouldn't fix. When the woman balks at paying the additional expense, the salesman says, "Oh, all right, we'll use the redwood one, but we'll have to cut off his feet." http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-947435471.html
Flag Comment Posted by Scruffy Dog on June 05, 2009 at 10:46 am
Really now. Don't mean to be brash or anything, but the guy obviously didn't need his legs anymore so why not whack off a few inches to fit him in the casket? Sounds like a attempt to squeeze some money out of the company by the family. After all they KNEW he was too small for the box but somehow he miraculously "fit" on the day of the wake. Five years later and not a peep until a disgruntled former employee comes forward. I'm crying foul on this one.
Flag Comment Posted by Olivia on June 05, 2009 at 9:29 am
A former EMPLOYEE of Cave Funeral SERVICES says Hines was too tall for the casket he PAID for before his death and said the funeral home didn’t want to PAY for a larger casket. This explains it in one paragraph! The DECEASED MAN PAID for a smaller casket...(probably more like an average size casket). Excuse me, but it sounds as if the family used their weight to stick the funeral home with the extra charges!!!!!!! Notice that I capitalized EMPLOYEE, SERVICES, PAID & PAY? This is a SERVICE people and like it or not, you either PAY for the SERVICES, or you A. go to jail or B. make sacrifices in the arrangements! MY SUGGESTION to the family is, going forward, HAVE THE GOVERNMENT PAY FOR YOUR FUNERALS. THEY ARE ALWAYS THE ANSWER!!
Flag Comment Posted by Beau on June 05, 2009 at 8:04 am
I don't fault the funeral home in this, but the dead man who was too cheap to order and prepay for the proper sized coffin for himself.As for cutting of the legs of the corpse...what does it matter? He was dead, wasn't he?
Flag Comment Posted by TheSwabbie on June 05, 2009 at 8:00 am
WOODDUDE QUIT SPAMMING!!! I am reporting you.
Flag Comment Posted by TheSwabbie on June 05, 2009 at 7:59 am
CommonSense was correct in a number of things, there are some obvious story inconsistincies that make it difficult to figure out what happened. BUT, then again, communication is the key. This funeral director was a moron for making the decision to alter the body in such a radical way. Did they pay for something too small and expect to "get away" with something or was it an oversight that the FD corrected in a very stupid way? Who knows. You still dont alter a body like this. Just because YOUR sense of morality about this doesnt leave you with problems doesnt mean it isnt the worst thing in the world. Its about basic human decency and treatment of the dead, honor and respect. As well, I am digusted and sickened by people who think others OWE THEM everything and they are should get stuff for free....BS. To expect to "saddle" the funeral home with the extra expense is not fair, as Common sense also said, they are a business. Thats why in the backrooms of the casket display rooms you will see the "Reduced price" models all the way down literally to the pine boxes and carboard boxes. This funeral director screwed up, made a really bad decision. I would like to see if the family really did pay for a bigger casket or if they purchased a regular sized one and just "expected" a larger one to materialize.
Flag Comment Posted by DennisinOhio on June 05, 2009 at 7:29 am
I deal with funeral directors all the time when my clients pass away. Many won't even take the body without up front payment - a disgusting way to do business - clients often have to charge the 8000+ bill on a credit card, even though they have plenty of investments and insurance to cover the bill within a week or so - disgusting. I had one client in a terminal condition who was very large - about 400 pounds. He preplanned and prepaid the funeral. Three weeks later, after his funeral, the funeral home asked the widow for another $1000, saying they had to use a larger casket due to his size, a fact of which was already known to them in the preplanning. I told the widow she had a contract and not to pay the extra $1000, but they haressed her into paying after three months of threats and phone calls. My complaint about them to the Ohio Funeral Board Commission of course went unanswered. This is why I will be donating my body to a local medical school!
Flag Comment Posted by tmix on June 04, 2009 at 10:44 pm
"pippik" - there is a psychological term for what you think and say. It's called projection. There is no hint of a race in the story, nor was there any in the comments by "common sense." Yeah, there's plenty of rage out here in flyover country but it's got nothing to do with racism (unless it's yours). It's got everything to do with hard-working, self-supporting, God-fearing, red-blooded Americans supporting the leeches of society who think it's their right to use the political system to take what isn't theirs. It is obvious to anyone with "common sense" that you are the racist. Ann Coulter for vice-president!

Post a Comment(Requires free registration)

The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.
 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Consumer Info & Money Saving Tips

Advertisement