PUEBLO, Colo. (KOAA) — Families impacted by the Davis Mortuary tragedy gathered outside the former Pueblo mortuary Friday night for a candlelight vigil, marking one year since investigators discovered 24 improperly stored bodies inside the building.
Investigators later found bones, tissues, and cremains at the site. One year later, 19 of the 24 bodies have been identified.
- Watch News5's coverage of the gathering below:
The mortuary was owned and operated by the Pueblo County coroner, Brian Cotter, and his brother Chris Cotter. Brian Cotter would resign in August of 2025. The brothers were arrested and bonded out of jail in June, they each face more than 120 counts of abuse of a corpse.
- Watch News5's coverage of Brian Cotter's resignation below:
Candles, songs and moments of silence marked the gathering, giving families a space to grieve and heal together.
"I'm so glad we are all able to gather here tonight and share in each others grief," Nicole Rider, whose father Mel Emerson died in 2011 was among the bodies found inside the mortuary.
Joanne Whitcomb attended the vigil to honor her cousin, Keith Nading.
"It was hard, it was hard on all the family, you go through it once you don't want to go through it again," Whitcomb said.
- Watch News5's coverage of the Cotters' arrests below:
Sheldon Robinson traveled from California to be in Pueblo for the vigil. His mother, Patricia Robinson, was among the bodies found inside Davis Mortuary. She died in 2012 from hepatitis C.
Robinson said he grew up in Pueblo and said he was grateful for the group "Colorado Remembers" which is made up of victims of various funeral home tragedies, including the Return to Nature case in Penrose.
"That was one of the hardest things I ever went through, losing a parent 'cause I was 26 at the time," Robinson said.
Robinson learned through a DNA test just months ago, in March, that his mother was among those impacted by the mortuary.
"It was feeling like I just went through that death all over again confirming it was her," Robinson said.
Whitcomb echoed the pain of reliving a loss.
"I don't think any body should have to go through it twice, once is bad enough and to go through it a second time" Whitcomb said.
For more information on the Davis Mortuary investigation, click here.
___
Renovations Wrap Up At Fox Run Regional Park
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
____
Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching.
