McLin funeral home called 'threat to the public’

By Kelli Wynn, Staff Writer 
DAYTON — Numerous instances of unprofessional conduct by Scherrie McLin and her Dayton funeral home, McLin Funeral Home Inc., make them “an immediate and dangerous threat to the public,” an examiner for the state said this week.
The instances include holding a body “for ransom,” burying a body in the wrong spot, employing an unlicensed funeral director, failing to answer a customer’s questions about a relative’s remains, failing to answer questions about the location of certain funds, and waiting several weeks to pick up a body from the county coroner’s office, said Columbus attorney Marc Myers in a 20-page report to the state Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
“The wrongful acts were numerous and repeated over time,” Myers told the board. “In short, the wrongdoing was pervasive, reaching into virtually every aspect of the practice of funeral directing.
“Finally, the wrongdoing is inexcusable,” Myers added.
“There is no explanation for it other than a callous attitude of indifference toward the law governing the conduct of the profession and an uncaring attitude to serve the real purpose of the profession — serving people in need.”
Myers recommended the board permanently revoke McLin’s funeral director’s license and the funeral home’s license to operate.
The board will consider his recommendations and any objections to them next month, a board spokeswoman said.
The Dayton Daily News attempted to contact McLin at her last known home address. No one answered the door.
The board ordered McLin to stop operating the funeral home, 2801 N. Gettysburg Ave., in March and accused her of violating nine state laws and administrative codes.
The order followed an inquiry into complaints about the funeral home’s operation.
One violation stemmed from McLin allegedly permitting her son Mark Donelson to advertise and promote himself in the community and online as a licensed funeral director when he is not.
Several other violations stemmed from the funeral home’s handling of $676,266 worth of contracts for prearranged funerals.
Others involved the handling of bodies and carrying out of funerals.
The board held a hearing Sept. 8 on the alleged violations. Myers’ task was to verify the allegations and make recommendations.
In his report, Myers said, “It is abundantly clear from the written evidence and oral testimony presented at hearing that Ms. McLin and McLin Funeral Home have caused a great deal of unwarranted additional stress and emotional hardship to families through their unlawful conduct.”
Malik Hubbard, the state board’s executive director, said the board is still investigating the outstanding prearranged funeral contracts and the money associated with the contracts.
The state board will also seek advice from the state Attorney General’s office about what legal steps to take, if any, against McLin.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2414 or kwynn@DaytonDailyNews.com.