Do-it-at-home Cremation

Normally, cremation occurs at a licensed crematorium.  Sometimes, however, family members conduct a do-it-home cremation.

For example, in a macabre case from Lewiston, Missouri, after Larry McWilliams died in 1997, his wife, son, and daughter conducted Larry’s cremation in a trash-burning area behind their home.  The wife tended to the fire to be sure no bones were left over while the family casually ate dinner.

The motivation behind this at-home cremation, however, appears to be less than noble.  The three participating family members pleaded guilty on November 30, 2006 to embezzlement.  They did not notify Social Security that Larry had died and thus continued to receive and cash his Social Security disability checks for approximately nine years.  U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway is quoted as saying that “[t]hese three defendants bring a whole new meaning to greed.”

See AP, Family admits burning body, cashing checks for years, LubbockOnline.com, Dec. 6, 2006.