The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "funeral homes" ...
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Abandoned Ashes
KSHB-TV discovered 155 boxes of unclaimed ashes in the basement of an abandoned funeral chapel. How did it happen? Who did the ashes belong to?
Tags: Funeral Homes; Cremation
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Grave Matters
"Grave Matters follows a dozen families that conduct 'green' burials for their loves ones, including burials that take place in 'natural' cemeteries and at sea, as well as cremations and funerals at home."
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Stealing From the Dead
This story tells the exclusive inside story of an Indianapolis business man who purchased a funeral home in New York where funeral home workers are accused of raiding the cadavers entrusted to their care. It exposed delays by the King County Prosecutor's office in its investigation of the case. The federal government also failed. FDA records reveal years of violations cited against the tissue processor in this case, but the FDA leveled no clear sanctions until it finally launched the nation's largest human tissue recall.The oversight lapses allowed 1900 pieces of potentially unscreened tissue into hospital operating rooms across the country. The story uncovers the first Indiana patient to test postitive for a potentially life threatening disease after receiving an implant from the recalled batch.
Tags: tissue harvesting; funeral homes; cadavers; implants; FDA; transplants
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Dying in Florida
"Nearly 170,000 Floridians died last year at a rate that outpaced the nation. Here, the competition to sell funeral and burial services is intense. Florida Today reveals changes and problems in the 'death care' industry that affect consumers' pocketbooks."
Tags: funeral business; burial; death; dying; Florida; elderly; corporations; funerals homes; cemeteries
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Stiffed
After the Texas Funeral Service Commission cracked down on the largest agency in the state, Service Corp. International decided to strike back. Instead of action being taken against the company, the regulatory commission itself was examined. SCI appealed to then Gov. Bush to make it happen.
Tags: funeral homes; regulatory agencies; Bush
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The Deathcare Business
U.S. News & World Report investigates how the funeral industry is making lots of money off people's grief. The article reports on the 20-year-long crusade of a Catholic priest, Henry Wasielewski, to educate funeral buyers about morticians' markups. One of the findings is that chain-owned funeral homes charge customers the most and often have unfair practices . "In the past five years, funeral prices have risen three times faster than the cost of living," the magazine reports
Tags: Funeral and Memorial Societies of America; churches; religion; Catholicism; corpses; mausolea; cemeteries; crematory
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Funeral Board Outgunned
The Arizona Republic reports on problems with the funeral industry in Phoenix including wrongful cremation, the suicide of a mortuary worker, the theft of gold teeth and sexual abuses. The Arizona Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers investigates less than 1 percent of complaints each year -- and board members also admit that there are probably "three or four times" as many who do not complain. In other states funeral boards have been disbanded because they were hiding more than they were investigating.
Tags: funeral homes; cemeteries; funeral board; emasculation; sexual abuse; wrongful cremation
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R.I.P. OFF
Modern Maturity reports on the deceptive practices that are used by some in the funeral industry. Some funeral directors are using high-pressure sales tactics, price gouging, charging for unnecessary services, allowing the customers few options, failing to show price lists as is required by federal law. FTC supervision hasn't been adequate, Modern Maturity reports. Included are tips on how consumers can protect themselves.
Tags: funeral homes; AARP; decptive marketing; funeral industry; Federal Trade Commission; National Funeral Director's Association; Federal Consumers Alliance
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Home After Dark
Harper's Magazine attends the funeral of three girls murdered in a Paducah, Ky. high school while attending a morning prayer session. The article examines the violence that has wracked the area and the town's responce.
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A Bloody Day in Georgia
This story is a classic illustration of abuse of power. In this instance by a former funeral home director with no hands-on law enforcement experience who won a political appointment to lead Georgia's burgeoning prison system. Within weeks of assuming the job, Wayne Garner was leading SWAT-like teams of prison guards on shakedowns throughout the state. With each shakedown came prisoner allegations of abuse, escalating with the bloody shakedown at Hays prison in July 1996. The violence of that day remained a secret until last year, when testimony taken in conjunction with a prisoner lawsuit began leaking out.
Tags: TAPE