Toledo, Ohio
Cindy Putman protests outside the H.H. Birkenkamp Funeral Home on Tremainsville Road and with good reason.
A deeply disturbing story has unfolded in this Toledo funeral home, one owned by Houston-based Service Corporation International. In yet another scandal for the largest funeral corporation, an employee with H.H. Birkenkamp funeral home has been arrested after police say he sexually molested a corpse. Lawrence J. Clement, 57, was taken into custody after the victim’s family notified police.
Lawrence J. Clement Sexually Molested Corpse
According to the Toledo Police Department, employees with the H.H. Birkenkamp Funeral Home called the 51-year-old victim’s family members to report that one of their staff members had sexually abused her corpse. Another employee allegedly witnessed the sexual assault and threatened to go to police unless the family was contacted. The funeral home offered to waive the $11,000 funeral bill if they agreed not to call police. The family rejected the offer, contacted police and transferred the victim’s body to another funeral home.
Specific details about the abuse were not released, other than “sexual molestation.” Lisa Marshall, a spokeswoman for Houston-based Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI), says the employee has been fired.
Clement was booked into the Lucas County Jail and charged with sexual abuse of a corpse.
Service Corporation International funeral homes can be identified by the Dignity Memorial Brand.
James Patton Funeral Directors 