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Unlicensed NY funeral director kept decomposing bodies, prosecutors say
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Apr 1, 2026
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By
Giulia Heyward
Published Apr 1, 2026
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A Long Island man is facing felony charges after a surprise inspection led to the discovery of multiple decomposing bodies, including some stacked on top of one another, officials said.
The state attorney general’s office identified the accused as Michael Naughton, 55, and said he continued to operate a funeral home despite having his license revoked in 2019.
Prosecutors said authorities discovered 13 bodies — all in varying states of decomposition — at the Camelot Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. Six of those bodies were found in the chapel, while three more bodies, including two stacked on top of one another, were found in the garage, according to investigators.
Another 17 boxes of cremated remains were found in the basement, authorities said.
Further investigation led the state to accuse Naughton of defrauding dozens of New Yorkers by falsely claiming to be a funeral director while operating at the funeral home. Prosecutors alleged he stole thousands of dollars from grieving families.
Naughton conducted business, from organizing the transfer of remains to overseeing cremations, without a valid license, officials said.
He faces multiple felony charges, including grand larceny.
The state is also asking anyone who may have done business with Naughton at Camelot Funeral Home to contact the attorney general’s office.
“Naughton heartlessly took advantage of New Yorkers while knowingly operating his funeral home without a license and failed to take proper care of the remains in his possession,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
Naughton's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tagged
long island
public safety
westchester
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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