Attorney Rick Detoto is representing Michael Richardson of Richardson Mortuary, and in an exclusive interview, told KHOU 11 his client was blindsided.
HOUSTON — UPDATE | Charges have been dropped against one of the co-owners of Richardson Mortuary, where at least a dozen bodies were found last April in disturbing conditions. Gayle Bell was charged with three counts of abuse of a corpse. Those charges have now been dismissed. The owner — Michael Richardson — still faces several charges.
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**ORIGINAL STORY PUBLISHED MAY 2, 2025 BELOW**
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A Houston mortuary is now closed with no plans to reopen after only partially complying with the state amid an ongoing investigation into regulatory violations.
On April 14, the Texas Funeral Service Commission issued a cease-and-desist letter directing Richardson Mortuary to comply with a series of regulatory mandates to ensure accountability, transparency and public safety within 14 days.
This followed an on-site inspection conducted by the Commission on April 11, 2025, which revealed “serious regulatory concerns” at the mortuary.
The investigation was triggered after families allegedly entered the facility and recorded videos showing bodies in poor conditions inside the mortuary, later posting them to social media. Houston Police reported that during this incident, a worker at the mortuary stabbed a man who was recording, with the worker claiming self-defense. A total of 13 bodies were removed from the facility and taken to different locations.
The Commission issued a directive that called for records and information, including a complete list of all licensed embalmers and funeral directors employed between April 2024 and April 2025 and documents of all funeral services provided during that time frame. They also called for a list of all decedents, their next of kin, and the names of transport companies and funeral establishments involved in the transfer and storage of remains over the past year.
Richardson Mortuary representatives Michael Richardson and Gayle Bell reportedly submitted only some of the required documents, citing health issues and other challenges that prevented full compliance within the 14-day deadline.
In an exclusive interview, Rick Detoto, attorney representing Michael Richardson, said his client has been hospitalized with a serious health condition.
“He is very sorry for the delay. He’s very sorry for their appeared lack of communication,” Detoto said. When asked about families waiting up to a year for cremated remains, he added, “I can tell you that Mr. Richardson is devastated by what’s happened.”
Detoto claimed Richardson was “blindsided” by the situation and described him as a “pillar in the community.” When questioned if someone else was managing operations during Richardson’s illness, Detoto responded, “Yeah, definitely. There was somebody in charge. And we’re not prepared to talk about that or tell you that publicly. But I do know there’s a back story.”
Attempts to reach Gayle Bell resulted in “no comment.”
Richardson Mortuary also reported that its lease was terminated and access to the building revoked, shutting down the business with no plans to reopen, questioning the need for passing a new inspection.
Due to Richardson’s health, the Commission plans to send state investigators to Houston next week to collect the remaining records in person.
The funeral home said several remains were removed from the facility between April 11 and April 14 by using Spectrum Deathcare Services for most transports, with help from other providers.
The TFSC received a list of decedents and names of family members.
A week after the cease-and-desist order, HPD took custody of 89 sets of cremated remains to reunite with families. Some families say they’ve been waiting on remains for months, with some claims extending up to two years.
The state’s investigation into Richardson Mortuary is ongoing. Officials will decide on potential fines, penalties, or license actions once the review is complete. Their focus is on protecting families and ensuring all remains are handled with care and respect.
Families with concerns should contact Detective J.P. Varela at (713) 308-3100. Anyone with information regarding Richardson Mortuary can contact the TFSC at legal@tfsc.texas.gov or (512) 936-2474.
Story background
The investigation continues into Richardson Mortuary.
Families who trusted their loved ones to the southwest Houston facility said there were multiple neglected remains.
The investigation began after families shared social media videos showing bodies in poor conditions inside the facility, leading to a Texas Funeral Service Commission inspection on April 11 that revealed “serious regulatory concerns.”
Houston police have taken custody of 89 sets of cremated remains. The bodies of 13 people were found in the mortuary and moved to different locations, officials confirmed.
The commission issued a cease-and-desist order on April 14, requiring compliance within 14 days. Owners Michael Richardson and Gayle Bell have only partially complied, citing Richardson’s health issues and the termination of their building lease.
“As a result, Richardson Mortuary is now considered closed with no plans to reopen,” the commission said in a news release sent out Friday.