Davis Mortuary co-owners charged with 125 counts each of abuse of a corpse

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PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Brian and Christoper Cotter have been officially arrested after serious allegations accusing the Cotters, who co-owned Davis Mortuary, of leaving dozens of bodies to decay in their funeral home.

During a press conference, officials confirmed that both Cotter brothers have a $1 million bond.

Each faces the following charges:

• 125 counts of abuse of a corpse (class 6 felony: 24 bodies, 83 cremains, 16 sets of bones, 2 containers of human tissue) 
• 9  counts of forgery (class 5 felony)
• 9 counts of theft (class 5 felony)
• 9 counts of theft (class 6 felony)
• 7 counts of theft (class 1 misdemeanor) 
• 2 counts of theft (class 2 misdemeanor) 

The DA says as of now, 19 bodies have been identified out of the 24 found at Davis Mortuary. Officials confirmed that the human tissue was found in buckets and was from 2016 to 2017, whereas the bodies were from around 2010 to 2012.

The CBI says, in addition to the physical abuse of remains, the investigation identified evidence of systemic financial and administrative misconduct, including the fabrication of death certificates and the misappropriation of funds from preneed funeral contracts. KRDO13 asked the DA's office whether any of the charges related to the Davis Mortuary contract with the Colorado Department of Corrections, and the DA's office said no.

According to records by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), former Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter's privately-owned funeral home was due for an inspection back in August of 2025. When inspectors arrived, they noted "a strong odor of decomposition."

READ MORE: Pueblo County Coroner accused of hiding bodies in secret room at his privately-owned funeral home

Later, inspectors said they noticed a door was hidden by a cardboard display. When they went to remove the display, inspectors say Cotter asked them not to go inside, according to DORA's records.

Inspectors did not follow Cotter's request; when they entered, they said they found bodies in various stages of decomposition. According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Cotter told inspectors that some of the bodies had been awaiting cremation for approximately 15 years.

CBI says a total of 24 bodies from Davis Mortuary, along with multiple containers of bones and multiple containers of probable human tissue, were transferred to the El Paso County Coroner's Office for attempted identification.

KRDO13 Investigates was the first to uncover the allegations. To read all of our previous reporting on this case, click here.

KRDO13 has reached out to the Cotter's Attorney for comment.

“Mr. Cotter has been in contact with law enforcement and cooperative throughout the investigation and will continue to cooperate and engage in  the judicial process in hopes of bringing closure and peace to everyone impacted by this case.”

- David Beller

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