Larry Wilder Files Lawsuit in Jeffersonville Funeral Home Case

In July 2022, investigators uncovered a disturbing scene at Lankford Funeral Home in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where 31 decomposing bodies and multiple unidentified cremated remains were found throughout the facility. The discovery shocked the community and compounded the grief of families who had entrusted the funeral home with the care of their loved ones.

Attorney Larry Wilder responded by filing a civil lawsuit on behalf of affected families, citing emotional trauma, distress, and fraud. “That’s the last thing we can do for someone who we love who has died — provide them a decent burial,” Wilder said, underscoring the betrayal families felt when that trust was violated.

One of the families represented by Wilder was that of Nicole Lorey, who passed away on her 34th birthday in June 2022. According to the lawsuit, the funeral home’s director, Randy Lankford, told Lorey’s family that he could not release her body because an urn had not yet arrived. Investigators later discovered that her remains may have been among those found inside the facility.

Wilder also highlighted that 16 containers of cremated remains were unidentified, raising further questions about the funeral home’s practices. “We believe that, civilly, there’s an issue of whether there was fraud on behalf of Mr. Lankford and his funeral home,” he explained.

Other families have come forward with similar fears. Some received remains but remain uncertain about their authenticity, while others were left with unanswered questions about the whereabouts of their loved ones. For many, the situation has turned a time of mourning into renewed pain and uncertainty.

The lawsuit filed in Clark Superior Court seeks damages and a jury trial, aiming to hold the funeral home accountable and bring some measure of justice to the families impacted. State officials, including the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, have encouraged families to file consumer complaints, while the broader investigation continues.

By representing grieving families, Wilder placed a spotlight on the right to dignity in burial and the responsibilities funeral homes owe to the communities they serve. His legal action signaled a strong stand against misconduct in an industry built on trust and compassion.