Families all across the area are now wondering if their loved ones were treated with respect after Swanson Funeral Home in Flint was shut down.
At least one family from Detroit is desperately trying to get answers.
Utter disbelief from Tysha Whitchard after hearing about what state investigators found at Swanson Funeral Home in Flint.
“It’s gut-wrenching…it’s already hard enough having to go through this type of situation with a loved one, especially your father,” said Whitchard.
She's still waiting for her 62-year -old dad Marcus's remains after they were sent there to be cremated in mid June.
It was one of the funeral homes that could work with the family on a limited budget.
Swanson in Flint has now been shut down, state inspectors finding unrefrigerated bodies left in a garage for up to five months.
They also discovered several health code violations involving maggots, blood and fluid stains, and the smell of decomposing bodies throughout the building.
Whitchard is now wondering what really happened to her dad, the unknown like a heavy weight of her heart. She still doesn't have his remains, and claims she's been getting the run around for weeks.
The funeral home could be fined up to $10,000 for each violation. Its license has been revoked for now.
Swanson Funeral homes in Detroit are operated by a different company than Swanson Funeral home in Flint. A representative for that company released the following statement:
Swanson Funeral Home is a Detroit-headquartered business with two locations in Detroit – one on East Grand Blvd., and one on West McNichols – and one location in Pontiac. It has no locations in Flint.
Swanson’s Funeral Home in Flint is owned and operated by O’Neil D. Swanson II, who is the son of O’Neil Swanson, president of Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit. O’Neil D. Swanson II has no legal or business connection with his father’s business in Detroit.The actions taken by the state affect only Swanson’s Funeral Home in Flint and have no impact on Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit and Pontiac.
O’Neil D. Swanson, president of Swanson Funeral Home, said “The allegations the state has made against the Flint home are shocking and go against every principle of mortuary science. We have served the community for 59 years and have established an unchallenged record of providing experienced, compassionate service. I want to make it clear to all that the steps taken by the state against the Flint business do not impact us in any way.”
