NEW: Colorado funeral home owners sentenced to federal prison for selling body parts without families’ permission
The FBI, during an investigation dubbed “Operation Morbid Market,” ultimately tracked hundreds of bodies and body parts sold by Hess and Koch to places as far away as Saudi Arabia. Over the course of several years, dozens of Coloradans who used Sunset Mesa were horrified to learn from federal agents that the urns in their homes didn’t contain their loved ones’ ashes.
“The true beneficiaries were not disabled individuals but defendants Hess and Koch, who benefited financially from the sale of body parts,” Arguello said.Hess and Koch, charging each with six counts of mail fraud and three counts of illegal transportation of hazardous materials. Jason Dunn, the U.S. attorney for Colorado at the time, called their actions “blatant fraud.”
announcing the arrests. “It is hard to imagine the pain and worry of those who used Sunset Mesa and not knowing what happened to their loved ones’ remains.”earlier this year to one count of mail fraud, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Investigators determined Hess and Koch stole the bodies or body parts of at least 222 victims, with another 338 “almost certainly stolen,” according to Hess’ plea agreement.
The mother and daughter sold these bodies without consent — and in some cases forged documentation in order to sell bodies with infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, the government found.
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