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A state board shut down a Riverdale Park funeral home Monday after inspectors discovered a pile of more than 40 bodies on a garage floor, according to suspension orders.

A Maryland Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors investigator found the Chambers Funeral Home and Crematorium in violation after two April visits to the site in the 5800 block of Cleveland Avenue, citing a number of problems with the handling of the cadavers awaiting cremation.

According to the suspension orders, as an investigator entered the standalone garage that housed the crematory, an unnamed employee remarked, "[D]on't get upset about all the bodies in there."

The investigator then found a nearly 12-by-12 foot pile of body bags, containing body parts and cadavers from a medical facility, on the floor in front of the home's van, according to the orders.

She also noted "visible leakage" from the body bags, "a pungent odor" and some identification tags detached from the bags or illegible after being torn or wet.

The inspector visited April 26 and 27 as a follow-up to a previous random inspection that found problems such as unsanitary conditions in the embalming and preparation room.

During the follow-up visit, mortician/co-owner William Chambers also explained to the investigator that he intended to cremate all of the human remains and that 18 would be cremated two-at-a-time for efficiency purposes, according to the suspension orders.

Hari P. Close, president of The Maryland Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors, said that such co-mingling of cremated remains "is an unacceptable practice."

The state board suspended the business' license as well as that of two morticians who have been licensed for more than 20 years— brothers Thomas and William Chambers.

Thomas Chambers said they have been working with lawyers to get the business' license reinstated. Close said the owners will have to go before the board in a hearing to address the allegations.

"We're terribly sorry for the situation that has occurred," Thomas Chambers said. "We unfortunately made an error in judgment and we're working with our lawyers to get the situation rectified."

At least some of the cadavers were from Georgetown University Medical Center, Close said.

Tressa Kirby, a spokeswoman for Georgetown University Medical Center, said the school has been sending cadavers exclusively to Chambers Funeral Home for about five years.

"We are in the process of terminating our contract with them," Kirby said. "We will no longer be using them."

In a written statement, university officials said they had no prior reason to suspect misconduct at Chambers Funeral Home. They said they are investigating the matter and will contact families of the deceased who had donated their remains.

According to the suspension orders, William Chambers showed a letter from the medical facility that stated, "[as] you are accustomed to, we just want to reiterate that this removal, despite the large quantity of cadavers, should be handled in a respectful manner — both to the cadavers as well as the faculty, students and staff that may be in proximity of the removal."

The board is allowing the funeral home to operate until Friday because it has funerals scheduled this week.

Close, who grew up in the funeral home business and has been working it in himself for 25 years, said what the inspector found was "tasteless."

"Even if they were cadavers, people who donated their bodies to science, their bodies need to be treated with dignity," Close said. "For someone who donated their body to science, the unselfish act of helping someone help learn their craft or learn something new — it's shameful to see. It may not be someone's father or mother, but that was someone's child."

Close said previously the board only could regulate crematories that also conducted funeral services, but was hopeful there will be more oversight after Tuesday when Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) signed a bill into law that requires the Office of Cemetery Oversight and Board of Morticians to establish stricter regulation for crematories, including permits and specific penalties for violations.

The bill was approved during this year's general assembly after some 15 years of pressure, Close said.

Audrey Bragg, president of the Riverdale Park Business Association, said she and other members were shocked when they heard the news. Thomas Chambers is a longtime association member.

"When I read [the news] I just couldn't believe that Tommy could be, well, he sounded like the Big Bad Wolf in there," Bragg said.

Bragg said she once asked Thomas Chambers about the funeral business.

"And he said, ‘Stop by sometime and I'll give you a tour,'" Bragg recalled. "With that attitude, I'm surprised that anything bad would be going on there. I have suspicions that there's more going on to the story."

Former Riverdale Park Mayor Guy Tiberio said the funeral home is a community institution and has been in town for more than 50 years.

Tiberio contracted the Chambers' funeral home for his wife's funeral in 1984.

"I was very pleased with the services, very excellent. There was no cremation, but the overall services and everything they did were great," he said. "I knew the [Chambers] family very well, and I didn't hear anyone ever complain. And I've been there many times for many funerals."