OUTRAGE! GOVERNOR DECLARES HEALTH EMERGENCY AFTER GRUESOME DISCOVERY AT MORTUARY OWNED BY CORONER

UPDATE

Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a public health emergency Friday after state inspectors found about 20 decomposing bodies hidden inside a funeral home owned by Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter.

Polis ordered state officials to mobilize a disaster response to protect public safety following the state's latest case of funeral home corpse abuse.

“I’m sickened for the families of the loved ones who are impacted by this unacceptable misconduct," Polis said.

Cotter, if warranted, should be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Polis said. "No one should ever have to wonder if their loved one is being taken care of with dignity and respect after they’ve passed."

Polis also called for him to quit.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has joined the probe.

The Pueblo County Coroner's Office says on its website: "Mr. Cotter has over 20 years’ experience working with the Pueblo County Coroner's office and over 25 years of death care experience as a local mortician, a state death investigator, and a diplomat for the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators."

[Photo: Pueblo County Coroner's Office]