Neva Nolan, the former owner of Nolan Funeral Home in Colorado Springs, was sentenced today to four years in prison.
Nolan, 71, who pleaded guilty to theft and abuse of a corpse, took more than $200,000 from people who pre-paid for funeral services. She never honored the contracts or refunded the money.
Investigators found 63 boxes of ashes – remains that families thought had been buried or spread at specified locations – in a storage shed.
Judge Barney Iuppa’s courtroom was packed today with victims who gave emotional statements about being taken advantage of in the name of greed.
In arguing for a prison sentence, deputy district attorney Bill Edie told Iuppa: “One set of ashes was being used as a stereo speaker stand. She just didn’t care and that is what is so aggravating about this. She was selective about who’s money she used appropriately and who’s money she squandered away”.
