WEYMOUTH, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- An ongoing investigation by the Boston Police into former funeral director Joseph O'Donnell led to a search of a Weymouth storage facility, where human remains were discovered.
The Suffolk County DA confirmed that 12 bodies were recovered from the storage unit on Main Street. According to the police, there were no signs of foul play leading up to the death of any of the victims.
"Our top priority right now is determining the identity of the remains we've discovered," Suffolk County District Attorney, Daniel F. Conley said in a recent release. "We've seized records and documents that could help us locate those people's families, but this will be a time-and labor-intensive task."
Thursday's search warrant comes after one executed at a storage facility on Linwood Street in Somerville Wednesday. More than 40 cremated remains were found there and seized by investigators.
The investigation of 55-year-old O'Donnell began when he was arrested on larceny charges back in April. O'Donnell is facing two counts of larceny for allegedly taking more than $12,000 from an elderly couple prepaid. Carol and Leo Shamshack paid O'Donnell $12,150 to cover their future funeral expenses at O'Donnell's funeral home. Prosecutors say O'Donnell took the couple's money and went out of business. They later found out that he was also operating without a license and had been doing so for six years.
"I know if I saw him and I could say something to him, I'd say, 'Joe you know we put our trust in you, we trusted you with our children,'" Leo Shamshack said.
Charlotte McLaughlin says she is numb by news reports that bodies and cremated remains, possibly including her own father, were stashed in storage units in Weymouth and Somerville. She says she just wants to know where her father's ashes are so she can find peace.
"His remains are not being stored at the O'Donnell Funeral Home in Dorchester? So where are they?" she asked.
That's a question the DA and some 50 families want to know.
"Something has to be done," McLaughlin said. "Not only for me but for the many, many families effected by this."
Police and prosecutors are holding another investigation on other funeral arraignments done by OâDonnell, officials say. He is being held on $10,000 cash bail. A hearing scheduled for Friday was rescheduled to August 29.
Anyone with concerns about a payment to OâDonnell for funeral or cremation services may contact the Suffolk DAâs Special Investigations Unit at 617-619-4010.
Cox Media Group
