Editing Cremation (section)

==Recent controversies==
===Tri-State Crematory incident===
{{main|Tri-State Crematory scandal}}

In early 2002, 334 corpses that were supposed to have been cremated in the previous few years at the [[Tri-State Crematory]] were found intact and decaying on the crematorium's grounds in the U.S. state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], having been dumped there by the crematorium's proprietor. Many of the corpses were decayed beyond identification. Some families received "ashes" that were made of wood and concrete dust.<ref name="nbcnews.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6891712|title=Crematory operator gets12 years in prison|date=1 February 2005|website=Nbcnews.com|access-date=3 October 2017}}</ref>

Operator Ray Brent Marsh had 787 criminal charges filed against him. On 19 November 2004, Marsh pleaded guilty to all charges. Marsh was sentenced to two 12-year prison sentences, one each from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Tennessee (U.S. state)|Tennessee]], to be served concurrently; he was also sentenced to [[probation]] for 75 years following his incarceration.<ref name="nbcnews.com"/>

Civil suits were filed against the Marsh family and a number of funeral homes who shipped bodies to Tri-State; these suits were ultimately settled. The property of the Marsh family has been sold, but collection of the full $80-million judgment remains doubtful.