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Local News

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

State shuts down Findlay funeral home
Diamond Mine Direct
By JOY BROWN

STAFF WRITER

The state ordered Routson Funeral Chapel in Findlay to close immediately Monday and suspended Director Gregory J. Routson's licenses on a multitude of professional and personal charges, including mishandling a corpse, misappropriating funds, operating an unsanitary embalming area, and drug abuse.

The state Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors said the funeral home "presents a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public."

Routson denied the charges, claiming a competitor is out to destroy his business.

The state's eight-page report, publicly issued as soon as the board ruled Monday, charged Gregory Routson and the funeral home:

• Failed to treat at least one body with proper care and dignity by partially embalming it and leaving it unrefrigerated for 13 days;

• Performed unprofessional embalming;

• Allowed inappropriate condition of a corpse;

• Misappropriated money from memorial contributions for families of the deceased.

The report said Gregory Routson:

• Was "habitually intoxicated, or addicted to the use of morphine, cocaine or other habit-forming or illegal drugs." It said, "Eyewitness accounts have been provided regarding this addiction and the board's inspectors witnessed questionable behavior" during an inspection last week.

• Was naked or partially clothed during business hours in public areas in the funeral home;

• Threatened and/or harassed employees;

• Used a temporary container that previously contained cremated remains to make a gift for female employees.

The report also said the funeral home and Gregory Routson:

• Kept refuse and soiled linens in a public area; and failed to keep containers for refuse, trash and soiled linens covered.

• Failed to keep the preparation room clean and sanitary;

• Failed to properly sterilize all instruments used in embalming;

• Failed to destroy waste materials in accordance with state and federal regulations;

• Put on the jacket of a deceased man in front of the family;

• Failed to meet with families to arrange funeral services;

• Failed to provide families with a statement of goods and services;

• Allowed unlicensed staff members to meet with families to sell and arrange funeral services.

The board ordered Routson to cease embalming and funeral directing, and ordered the chapel to close.

Routson also was ordered to provide the state with a list of "pre-need contracts," and to notify the families of the deceased he is under contract with.

When contacted by telephone Monday, Routson said he had not been contacted by the state.

"You're kidding me," Routson said. "God, I can't believe this."

Routson said he hadn't "done anything wrong" and said that, by law, he should have been contacted first before the press was notified.

"This is going to ruin my family," he said.

He claimed the allegations against him are "all contrived" by another Findlay funeral home.

Last week, Karen Wright of Findlay filed a complaint with the state board against Routson.

Wright's brother, Steven D. Robinson, 43, of Findlay, died on May 26 in Blanchard Valley Hospital.

Wright claimed that Routson abused her brother's corpse and refused to treat the body or hold funeral services until the family paid him.

Wright said Robinson left "no resources to pay for the funeral," and that, even though Findlay agreed to provide an indigent burial for him, Routson wouldn't cooperate.

"We never saw Mr. Routson except when we delivered the clothing on May 28, at which time he tried on my brother's jacket in front of us and we were appalled," Wright reported to the state.

A "confrontation and altercation" that ensued between family members and Routson on June 8 was witnessed by state board inspectors, she said.

When another funeral home agreed to take the body, "the situation became very ugly," she said.

"A very sickening stench in the (Routson) funeral home was actually the decomposition odor coming from my brother's body...," she said.

"Upon my insistence to find out the condition of my brother's body, I learned that there were serious deficiencies in the embalming that had been done and that maggots and mold would have to be treated as well as additional embalming and restoration done to try and have the body viewable," she said.

Wright questioned Routson's ability to practice embalming and funeral directing.

"He appeared to be impaired and, when we inquired about this to the two girls working for Mr. Routson, they informed us that he was using cocaine and was under the influence and that this was a frequent occurrence on a regular basis. His communication is either erratic or seriously defective," Wright said.

"It was a godsend that your inspectors happened to stop and observe what we experienced," Wright stated. "Certainly no consumer should ever have to go through what we went through."

Routson has the right to request a hearing before the state board, but must do so within 30 days. He may also file appeals to his license suspensions in either Hancock County Common Pleas Court or Franklin County Common Pleas Court within 15 days.

Routson and the funeral home were also in the news in May, when a former funeral home employee, Kelly Cramer, pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor theft charge.

Cramer was ordered by Hancock County Common Pleas Judge Joseph Niemeyer to pay $499 to Routson Funeral Chapel.

She was accused of using the funeral home's business credit card for personal use and of writing fraudulent checks totaling $43,731 between July 2005 and July 2008.

Assistant County Prosecutor Drew Wortman said the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor at the funeral home's request; any theft of more than $500 constitutes a felony.

Court records show Routson's insurance company sued Cramer for $25,000 for having to pay that amount to the funeral home as part of an insurance policy.

Courier reporter Denise Grant contributed to this story.

Brown: 419-427-8496,

Send an e-mail to Joy Brown


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72 Comments (8 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
Rick wrote:
SAD SITUATION - REPORTER IS CORRECT
“ I just by happenstance came across this article and story. Firstly, the reporter, Joy Brown has done a valuable service to the community by reporting on this issue and the violations levied against this funeral home. Any good reporter has a duty and obligation to report the facts and that is what was done in this matter after receiving the information from the Funeral Board Investigator. Just from listenning to the interview with Mr. Routson it is obvious that he hasa substance abuse problem beit alcohol or drugs. His appearance also leaves much to be desired. It is somewhat odd that he is the only funeral director for the home. There is no back up director which usually leads to unauthorized staff conducting matters that by law must be done by a licensed director. This man needs professional help by way of treatment. Until that point the Board has done the appropriate thing in closing his service. Dealing with the dead requires a clear head so that embalming,utensils, and the prep room are kept in a clean stately manner in order ot prevent germs and disease. To leave a body without refrigeration for more than 12 hours in unacceptable let alone for 13 days. Some of the alleagations made against Routson were committed in the presence of the state investigator which indicates a serious problem. If he has no respect for the investigator imagine the lack of respect he has for the families he is serving. If you look at his web site he has not conducted a service sine April so his absence from the community will not be missed. There are other funeral homes in the town to serve its residents. As a person in the industry in Canada I can tell you that these allegations warranted the action taken. Unfortunately there is no other managing licensed director in his establishment to take over thus the state had no choice. His conduct to the family who lodged the inital complaint is sad and worthy of him being closed. ”
Monday, June 21, 2010 12:19:41 AM
Sis wrote:
Routson Funeral Home
“ I know several people who can tell of their experiences with Routson Funeral Home - experiences that would absolutely shock the community if they were publicly known. Thank God this Creep finally got caught. May his clients rest in peace. ”
Sunday, June 20, 2010 3:34:16 PM
GL wrote:
Greg Routson
“ Greg has handled the funerals of both my parents and my in-laws. We were treated with the utmost respect and compassion. I was shocked to read the article in The Courier. I think the personal tragedies in Greg's life have taken their toll. I pray that Greg will seek the professional help he so desperately needs. Greg you have many people who know you and support you. You are NOT alone.
As for the families who have had to deal with a double tragedy - that of losing a loved one and being treated with disrespect when you were grieving,I truly feel sorry for you. The situation needed immediate attention for all persons involved. I am hoping that eventually everyone will be able to return to living their life with dignity.

Another comment: I am appalled at the atrocious spelling and grammar I have read in various letters. Come on people, use a dictionary if spell check isn't available. Makes me almost hesitant to admit I graduated from the Findlay school system. English teachers please take notice !!!!
 ”
Friday, June 18, 2010 12:22:12 PM
ron wrote:
dont hide facts
“ Joy Brown wrote:
Facts
As a newspaper reporter tasked with informing the public, I'm not inclined to ignore or hide information that is released by a state government agency. While allegations in this report were certainly varied and unusual, the fact remains that the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors in Columbus compiled these violatons and contacted The Courier about them as soon as they were ruled upon.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 9:02:26 AM


joy by whom.. what time and by what means did you get your info please tell
before your hauled in to court/.


please note some use voice to text and the paper spy softwear hooks you up may in fact make spelling airs ,
at times we think the paper aids it ”
Friday, June 18, 2010 5:07:58 AM
findlaymom wrote:
Future business
“ Even if he is not charged with anything and ends up back in business....will people be stupid enough to go to his place of business after all this? I wouldn't!!! ”
Thursday, June 17, 2010 7:23:55 PM
Jackie Gordon wrote:
Greg Routson
“ I know Greg personally. He has not done anything that he is being accused of. In the past Greg has handled three funerals for my family and he did the perfectly. In my mind Greg is innocent of all charges. ”
Thursday, June 17, 2010 5:40:27 PM
Bone Dr. wrote:
Pam who is this Mr. RoutZon you speak of?
“ I couldn't resist this one Pam, you set yourself up so well for scrutiny! You indeed are so intelligent that you can't even get the correct persons name written. I feel bad for Mr. RoutZon(check your posting) whoever he is if indeed his career is over, bet he doesn't even know what the heck is going on. As far as whether Mr. "Routson's" career is over that will be determined in due course by the state and proper authorities. The problems with the posts is not merely spelling, but rather a majority (in this particular post) of uneducated incompetent people spouting off on merely opinion, nothing factual. My god you can't even get the guys name right let along how would you know his career is over? What I stated about my observations on grammar and spelling is certainly factual as you have proven my point for me in your last bit of nonsense bable! ”
Thursday, June 17, 2010 3:31:39 PM
Julie wrote:
It's not just the horrible spelling.....
“ Steve, you are correct. Routson could most definitely be charged with a felony rather than a misdemeanor. I stand corrected. The sad truth here is that I doubt that he's actually going to be charged in a criminal court. I am sure, like every other white collar criminal in this town, that he'll get a slap on the hand and a small fine and then be back in business in now time. In the meantime, money is missing from memorial envelopes, people are unsure where their pre-planned funeral money is, and there are lingering questions in the minds of thousands of people (including myself) as these fine folks are asking themselves "how did the Routson Funeral Chapel treat MY loved one?" No one wants to imagine the worst, but I know that most people out there are silently asking themselves that question. There is not a single person out there, besides Routson or his unqualifified assistants, that knows what went on behind the closed doors of the embalming room. It's unfortunate and sad that people are now left to wonder. ”
Thursday, June 17, 2010 10:39:47 AM
tim wrote:
joy's comment
“ Joy Brown-The other article on this subject stated that the Courier was contacted as soon as it was ruled upon and that was uncommon. How did that come about? How did the Courier know about it before Mr. Routson? Just curious. ”
Thursday, June 17, 2010 8:35:38 AM
Pam wrote:
spelling?
“ Well for those of you who seem to think the problem with the posts is spelling...... that just shows you that even "incompetent" "uneducated" "stupid folks" like us can read enough to
recognize that Mr. Routzon's career as a funeral director is over. Thank God! ”
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 8:13:54 PM
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.