PUEBLO – The Colorado Bureau of Investigation scheduled a news conference for updates on the Davis Mortuary investigation at 1 p.m. Friday.

Stay with Gazette.com for video and updates. Livestream coverage from the news conference is expected from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.

1:45 p.m. update

Gov. Jared Polis called for a need to be able to remove coroners under certain circumstances such as these.

“There needs to be some way, where, in conjunction, the commissioners, the state, the governor can act when needed to make sure that you have continuity of services for a very basic function that people rely on during life events,” he said.

Polis also stated that, prior to this year, Davis Mortuary did not undergo any state inspection because of poor regulation. The state inspection, through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) happened this year due to the Sunset Continue Mortuary Science Code Regulation bill (HB24-1335) that Polis signed into law this last legislative session.

“Prior to this new bill, it was a largely unregulated field, and I think that we’ve all learned a lot over the past few years that, unfortunately, whether it’s banking, whether it’s retail, whether it’s insurance, there’s always going to be people that seem to take advantage of other people,” Polis said.

1:30 p.m. update

CBI director Armando Saldate said the investigation could take months, and law enforcement is taking a “two-pronged” approach – gathering evidence to charge brothers and Davis Mortuary co-owners Brian and Chris Cotter and also providing a identifications of the bodies in a “respectful” and proper manner.

Saldate said that there are at least 20 bodies, and he hopes to have a final number sometime this weekend.

1:15 p.m. update

Brian Cotter has yet to step down from his position as coroner, Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero said.

Lucero said officials, both local and state, don’t have the authority to remove Brian Cotter.

In the meantime, El Paso and Fremont counties will be handling the responsibilities of the Coroner’s Office. Deputy county coroners are also still working in a “limited capacity.”

James Martin, deputy chief with the Pueblo Police Department, said Brian Cotter and Chris Cotter, are still in Pueblo and are not considered flight risks, adding that he couldn’t go into further detail due to the investigation.

Pueblo District Attorney Kala Beauvais said charges can’t be filed until the initial investigation is completed.

Earlier Friday, Thursday coverage

Gov. Jared Polis on Friday called on Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter to resign immediately amid a multi-agency criminal investigation that’s underway after state inspectors found “around 20” decomposing bodies hidden inside a private funeral home owned by Cotter during an annual inspection. 

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Polis also declared a disaster emergency to mobilize state resources to respond to the incident, and protect public health and safety, according to a news release from the governor’s office. The declaration also encourages Pueblo County to seek, and other counties to provide, support for the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office operations and the ongoing mitigation and investigation of Davis Mortuary.

“I’m sickened for the families of the loved ones who are impacted by this unacceptable misconduct,” Polis stated in the news release. “It is clear public trust has been lost and Mr. Cotter must resign as the Pueblo County Coroner immediately.

“He should be investigated and if warranted, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No one should ever have to wonder if their loved one is being taken care of with dignity and respect after they’ve passed, and Mr. Cotter must be held to account for his actions.”

Davis Mortuary, 128 Broadway Ave. in Pueblo, is under summary suspension after inspectors entered the business and noticed a “strong odor of decomposition” and a door hidden by a cardboard display during a mandatory annual inspection Wednesday, according to a statement from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

Officials say the inspectors saw “around 20 or so” bodies in various stages of decomposition. Brian Cotter, 64, who co-owns the mortuary with his brother, Chris, allegedly told inspectors that the bodies were awaiting cremation and that some of them had been in the room for about 15 years.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation scheduled a news conference for updates at 1 p.m. Friday.

DORA Division of Professions and Occupations Director Sam Delp said the official number of bodies has yet to be determined. According to Delp, state inspectors could see the bodies from the doorway, but did not step inside the room Wednesday. Law enforcement officials were notified immediately. A search warrant of the property was executed Thursday. 

In addition to the discovered bodies, Cotter allegedly admitted to investigators that he “may” have issued next-of-kin fake cremains, according to the state agency.

Read more at gazettedev.gazette.com.