Randy Lankford Pleads Guilty to 43 Counts of Felony Theft After Bodies and Cremains Found at Funeral Home

Jeffersonville, IN – On Friday, Randy Lankford, owner of Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center in Jeffersonville, pleaded guilty to 43 counts of felony theft. The charges stem from an investigation that began last July, when 31 decomposing bodies and 17 cremains were found at the funeral home.

Judge N. Lisa Glickfield proposed a sentence of 12 years for Lankford: four years in prison and eight years of home incarceration. In addition, Lankford must pay restitution to 53 families totaling $46,000.

The charges were for failing to complete the funeral services he was paid for. Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said the families paid for services that were never provided, and that Lankford had been taking money from families for months before the bodies were discovered.

The investigation into the funeral home began in July 2020 after the county health department received a complaint about a foul odor coming from the building. The health department then contacted the Jeffersonville Police Department, who began an investigation.

The Jeffersonville Police Department, Clark County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office worked together to investigate the case and bring Lankford to justice. The investigation is ongoing, and more information is expected to be released in the coming weeks.