MDH fines Cass County funeral home after empty formaldehyde bottles allegedly found in casket

The Minnesota Department of Health has fined a funeral home in Walker, Minnesota, after a family alleges they found empty embalming fluid bottles in a family member's casket.

According to MDH, the department's Mortuary Science Section received a complaint from the family in April, alleging Jarrod T. Mankie, of Northern Peace Funeral Home, inappropriately used empty formaldehyde bottles.

The family stated during a family member's visitation and funeral service Nov. 14, 2014, they noticed the family member's arms were not placed in the way they had requested. In an effort to adjust the family member's arms, the group discovered empty formaldehyde bottles under each of the arms.

When approached about the matter, Mankie said he uses the empty bottles to help position decedents in their caskets. He added it also allows him to dispose of and recycle the empty bottles.

As a result of the investigation, MDH issued a $2,500 fine in September to the funeral home.

KSTP has reached out to representatives of the funeral home for a response but have not yet heard back.