Ohio Man Posing as Funeral Home Director Found Guilty

90 Cremated Bodies Found Inside Ohio ChurchMan Posing as Funeral Home Director Found Guilty

Finally, we have a conviction to report regarding the article we published 7 months ago.

A Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge found Shawnte Hardin guilty of multiple felony charges for providing funeral services without a license.

In total, Hardin was found guilty on 31 charges: 

The case was heard by a judge after the defendant waived his right to have the case heard by a jury.

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Hardin operated several businesses in Lucas, Cuyahoga, Summit, and Franklin counties. The business names included Hussain Funeral Directors, Celebration of Life Memorial Chapels, Hardin Funeral Home, Inc., American Mortuary Services and Transportation, and Shawnte Davon Hardin Services, LLC. The original charges filed in the case accounted for crimes committed in each of the counties as part of a continuing course of criminal activity.  

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of Hardin running an unlicensed funeral home that exemplified Hardin’s criminal enterprise. In Sept. 2021, Hardin was in the news when the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation removed two bodies from a building he was using for makeshift funeral services at 1615 E. Livingston Ave. in Columbus.

In January, more than 80 created remains were located at 825 East Buchtel Ave. in Akron at Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church. Many of the remains have been identified and returned to family members, although some have yet to be claimed. Families whose loved ones may be impacted may contact BCI at 855-BCI-OHIO (855-224-6446).

Hardin will be sentenced on Friday, Aug. 26, at 9 a.m.

See original article: 90 Cremated Bodies Found Inside Ohio Church

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