CROWLEY, La. (KLFY) – Two bodies that had been at the Wilturner Funeral Home since December were recovered today as part of an investigation by the Acadia Parish Coroner’s Office.

Coroner Dr. Mark Dawson said the bodies have since been transported to a crematorium in Lafayette per the families’ request.

The owner of the funeral home, Joseph Wilturner, was not present when the coroner arrived this afternoon so authorities had to force their way in, Dawson explained.

Crowley Police officers were at the funeral home today to assist the coroner’s office in executing a search warrant.

Dawson told KLFY he had been trying to contact Wilturner for over a week. The coroner said he has “never had to do this before,” in his 33-year career.

Clarence Arceneaux told KLFY’s Jazmin Thibodeaux that his father was supposed to be cremated two months ago but the family never received his father’s ashes.

Joseph Wilturner told News 10 that the funeral home was never paid by the families for its services and that he was only contacted by them yesterday.

The coroner’s office is still investigating the case.