Pueblo Coroner Resigns After Decomposed Bodies Found at Mortuary

By Ashley Eberhardt | KDVR Fox 31

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KXRM) — Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter has resigned just over a week after the discovery of at least 24 bodies stored improperly at the mortuary he co-owned, Davis Mortuary.

In a letter released by the Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners, Cotter’s legal counsel explained that Cotter was “hospitalized for a cardiac event” following the discovery during the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ inspection on Aug. 20.

Numerous state and local officials have called for Cotter to resign, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis. After a week had passed without Cotter’s resignation, a process to recall him from office in a recall election was estimated to cost just under half a million dollars.

Cotter’s resignation is effective Tuesday, Sept. 2, according to the letter. While the letter was drafted by Cotter’s legal counsel, it explains that he will be issuing his own statement “when he is able, as soon as possible.”

“Mr. Cotter has been a dedicated public servant to the people of Pueblo since 2014,” said Cotter’s legal counsel in the resignation letter. “He offers this resignation as a final act of public service, thus allowing the Coroner’s Office to continue its superb service to the people of this community—a public that Mr. Cotter holds dear.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT KDVR FOX 31