Two years after Colorado law enforcement and justice was hit with a forensic misconduct scandal, a mortuary business owned by Pueblo County (Colorado) Coroner Brian Cotter is now under criminal investigation.
On August 25, while conducting a routine inspection, Colorado regulatory inspectors discovered over 20 dead bodies in various states of decay hidden inside the Davis Mortuary funeral home owned by elected Pueblo County Coroner Brain Cotter and his brother Chris Cotter.
The next day, a confirmed total of 24 bodies—along with multiple containers of bones and probable human tissue representing an unknown number of deceased individuals—were respectfully transferred to the El Paso County Coroner's Office for attempted identification. Given the state of the remains, investigators believe some of the bodies are at least 15 years old.
Late last week, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) held a press conference to confirm that 6 of the 24 recovered bodies have been positively identified. Investigators used dental X-rays, fingerprints and DNA. The remains identified so far are from the years 2010 to 2012—bodies that were allegedly never cremated as promised.
The CBI set up a questionnaire in the immediate aftermath to assist with the investigative process for families who sought services at Davis Mortuary. As of Oct. 1, the CBI has received 1,359 phone or email tips and has 655 responses to the form.
Identification challenges delay charges
No one has been charged with a crime yet—a deliberate decision.
“Authorities prefer to file all charges at once, rather than piecemeal, to ensure the strongest case. Specific criminal charges also require an identified victim to be attached,”
the CBI explained.
To further complicate the identification process, Davis Mortuary’s record-keeping was paper-based and requires a manual review. Investigators anticipate they are potentially months away from the point where criminal charges can be filed.
Resignation and eviction
The day after the discovery of the bodies, Colorado Governor Jared Polis called for the immediate resignation of Brian Cotter.
“I’m sickened for the families of the loved ones who are impacted by this unacceptable misconduct. It is clear public trust has been lost and Mr. Cotter must resign as the Pueblo County Coroner immediately. He should be investigated and if warranted, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No one should ever have to wonder if their loved one is being taken care of with dignity and respect after they’ve passed, and Mr. Cotter must be held to account for his actions,” said Polis.
Brian Cotter did resign the following week, effective Sept. 2, 2025. He was first elected as Pueblo County Coroner in 2014. However, Brian Cotter has not relinquished his funeral home license, even though the license was suspended by the state of Colorado.
Also in September, the owners of the building that housed the Davis Mortuary evicted the business on the grounds of alleged criminal activity and improper storage of human remains.
A timely law
Last year, Polis signed HB24-1335 - Sunset Continue Mortuary Science Code Regulation, which creates more accountability for funeral homes in Colorado, including implementing periodic inspections. The Davis Mortuary situation was discovered by inspectors from the Department of Regulatory Agencies as a result of this law. The law was signed in response to the 2023 discovery of nearly 190 bodies being improperly stored at Return to Nature Funeral Home.