Investigators Confirm Identity of Six in Davis Mortuary Case

The following is a news release from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation

October 1, 2025 – CBI –  Pueblo, CO –The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office held a joint press conference today to provide an update on the ongoing Davis Mortuary investigation, confirming progress in victim identification while explaining that criminal charges are still months away.

Investigators confirmed that 6 of the 24 recovered bodies have been positively identified. The remains identified so far are from the years 2010 to 2012—bodies that were allegedly never cremated as promised. As of today, the CBI received 1,359 phone or emails tips. We had 655 responses to our Google form asking for family information if someone thought their loved one might be a victim. 

Identification Challenges Delay Charges

The investigative team and the District Attorney's office emphasized that the decision not to file charges yet is deliberate.

• Goal: Strongest Case Possible: Authorities prefer to file all charges at once, rather than piecemeal, to ensure the strongest case. Specific criminal charges require an identified victim to be attached.

• Decade-Old Remains: The primary challenge is that the bodies are over a decade old, and Davis Mortuary’s record-keeping was paper based and requires a manual review.  Identifying victims requires a slow, methodical process, including potential DNA matching.

• Timeline: Due to the complexity of the identification process, investigators anticipate they are potentially months away from the stage where criminal charges can be filed.

The District Attorney noted they are in weekly contact with investigators and are dedicated to "getting the filing of charges right the first time," ensuring compliance with legal Discovery Deadlines.

Clarifications for the Community

• Brian Cotter: Authorities confirmed Brian Cotter resigned as Pueblo County Coroner but has not relinquished his funeral home license, even though the license was suspended by the state of Colorado. The license revocation process is handled by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

• Misinformation: There is no reason to believe the FreeMasons are suspects; Davis Mortuary merely rented the building from them.

• Family Information: Investigators appreciate families who filled out the online Google forms but asked the public not to show up unannounced to volunteer DNA. Authorities will only contact families whose information suggests a direct connection to the victims, who are primarily believed to be from the 2010–2012 timeframe.

Consumers who believe they may have a pre-need funeral contract impacted by this matter and have questions about their contract can fill out this form below to seek assistance from the Colorado Division of Insurance.    

The CBI and the 10th Judicial District Attorney thanked the community for its patience, stressing that investigators are focusing their time and energy toward building a comprehensive case that ensures justice for the victims and their families. The CBI and District Attorney Kala Beauvais also wish to acknowledge the support and assistance it’s received from the following agencies: Pueblo Police, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Regulatory Agencies and the newly appointed Pueblo County Coroner.

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