Funeral home denies mishandling bodies

FALLS CHURCH -- A funeral home that has been accused of mishandling bodies awaiting burial at Arlington National Cemetery says an internal review found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Attorneys for National Funeral Home in Falls Church wrote to a Virginia regulatory board that the company has not violated any laws or industry standards. The home serves as a regional embalming and storage facility for Houston-based Service Corporation International.

A former employee has accused the funeral home of storing bodies in hallways and on unrefrigerated storage racks in a garage.

In letters to the Virginia Board for Funeral Directors and Embalmers released yesterday, funeral home officials acknowledge they stored bodies on the garage racks in coffins at times, but said it was never for an extended period. -- The Associated Press