“As far I know, there is an interested party who is a licensed funeral director in the state of Ohio,” said Vanessa Niekamp, the board’s executive director.
The news about the potential purchase came to light after the funeral home’s attorney, Lawrence Greger, filed a motion in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas last week to clarify that the funeral home could be sold without court approval.
Judge Steven Dankof approved that motion Tuesday.
In January, the state board permanently revoked the license of Scherrie McLin, funeral home owner, and that of her funeral home at 2801 N. Gettysburg Ave., after a state investigation revealed that McLin violated nine state laws and administrative codes.
The board, which is the court-appointed receiver of McLin’s prepaid funeral service contracts, also announced in January that more than $100,000 in prepaid funeral service money was unaccounted for.
“We’re still obtaining documents and information to determine if any criminal charges are appropriate in this matter,” said Greg Flannagan, public information officer for the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.
Dankof’s order stated that “any remaining proceeds from the sale of the funeral home and/or the real estate shall be forwarded to the Receiver for the preneed contracts, unless the sale is to another funeral home or funeral director consents to fulfill the preneed funeral contracts.”
Niekamp said, “We would then transfer and release to the new owner any assets of McLin Funeral Home, provided that the owner is licensed as a funeral director and has a licensed funeral home.”
It is unclear what will happen to the nearly 60 containers of cremains that state investigators found inside the funeral home in October.
“We are not aware of any that we would need to seek possession of,” Niekamp said.
Despite McLin’s situation, she can apply for a new funeral director’s license in the state, but it would require board approval, Niekamp said.
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