TARGET 13: Families accuse local cremation company of holding loved ones’ remains hostage

Families across the country are accusing a locally based cremation service company of scamming them and holding their loved ones’ remains “hostage” until they pay up.

The Colorado Springs Better Business Bureau launched an investigation into Heritage Cremation Provider after it said it saw a pattern of complaints. Jonathan Liebert, the CEO of the local BBB, said customers across the country complain Heritage Cremation provider would set a price with customers and then later ask for hundreds of dollars more.

In multiple instances, customers said the company refused to release the loved ones’ remains unless people paid hundreds of dollars more than what was negotiated. A family in Littleton and a family in Michigan said it took more than a month to track down their loved ones’ remains.

Victims believe the company rents a virtual office space in Colorado Springs to utilize a loophole in Colorado law.

To hear from the victims and the loophole in Colorado law, tune into KRDO NewsChannel 13 at 10 p.m.