Death and Laxness

"After collecting payment, [Harvey] proceeded with the burial," funeral board records state.

The board determined that Harvey's actions violated statutes "by dealing with funeral services customers in a [sic] unresponsive and insensitive manner" and "engaging in conduct that causes or results in disrespect to the deceased."

Problems at Harvey Funeral Chapel surfaced again last fall. The funeral board is nearly finished with an investigation stemming from a report in a Hispanic newspaper about a series of events at a funeral last September.

According to the account in Prensa Hispana that triggered the investigation, Harvey delivered an improperly prepared body to a church for a funeral service. The newspaper reported that blood was dripping from the casket as it was taken into the church.

Harvey--who once operated a funeral parlor that offered drive-through viewings--reportedly asked everyone to leave the church while he touched up the body. According to the newspaper, when the casket was reopened, a plastic bag was wrapped around the head of the body. When the bag was removed, the face appeared swollen and disfigured. Blood was running from the sides of the deceased's shirt.

The priest officiating the service demanded that the casket be closed immediately, to prevent flies from landing on the body, according to the newspaper.

Funeral board investigators say the board has finished its review of the case and has notified Harvey of the pending action. The board, however, cannot comment further on the case until the state Attorney General's Office finishes its review.

Harvey declined to comment about that investigation.

Contact John Dougherty at his online address: jdougherty@newtimes.com