A local funeral home director says the downturn of the economy is leading to an increase in indigent burials.
Don Catchen owns a funeral home in Elsmere and has a contract with Kenton County to bury the remains of the unknown or unclaimed at Highland Cemetery in Ft. Mitchell.
Catchen says he used to average a dozen cases a year but says that number has since doubled.
"Since I've had this contract we averaged about ten to twelve cases a year as an average. Since Jan. 1 to today I've had 23 cases that have been indigent and we still have six months to go in this year," said Don Catchen, Funeral Home Director.
Catchen is currently trying to track down family members of two different people so they can have a proper burial.
Hardman Grimes, 56, and Marie Antoinette, 55, have not had any family members come forward.
If you have any information about relatives, contact Catchen at his Elsmere funeral home.
