A funeral home belonging to former Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter and his brother, Chris Cotter, has been served with an eviction notice for the property at 128 Broadway Ave., according to a posted notice from the state judicial department on Aug. 28.
The listed reason for the eviction was a violation of the lease for “conducting criminal activity on the property, storage of bodies over the allowed limit as stated by CBI investigation.”
Eviction notice on the door of Davis Mortuary on Aug. 28, 2025
Under normal circumstances, once notice is given for demand for compliance or possession, the tenant would have three days to move out or be forcibly removed by the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, according to the PCSO webpage on evictions.
The eviction comes after an inspection by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies on Aug. 20 revealed several bodies in various stages of decomposition.
Cotter allegedly told the DORA inspectors that the bodies were awaiting cremation and that some of them had been in the concealed room for about 15 years. He also allegedly stated that some of the decedents’ families may have been given fake cremains.
Boarded-up windows and doors at Davis Mortuary and the Masonic Lodge at 128 Broadway Ave. on Aug. 27.
A total of 24 bodies were removed from Davis Mortuary between Aug. 21 and Aug. 26, according to CBI officials.
In addition to the bodies, CBI agents removed “multiple containers” of bones and probable human tissue, representing an unknown number of deceased individuals.
Davis Mortuary was issued a summary suspension from practice, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation launched a criminal investigation into Brian and Chris Cotter. No arrests have yet been made and no charges have been filed.
Cotter announced his resignation the evening of Aug. 28 through his attorney, David Bellers. The resignation is effective Sept. 2.
The Broadway Avenue property long inhabited by Davis Mortuary is owned by the Masonic Temple Annex Association, according to the Pueblo County Assessor’s website. The temple also owns the adjoining property at 126 Broadway Ave.
Cotter previously served as grand master of the Colorado Freemasons for at least a year. The Grand Lodge of Colorado has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the Chieftain regarding Cotter’s continued membership with the Colorado Freemasons.
More: Everything we know so far about criminal probe into Pueblo Coroner Brian Cotter’s mortuary
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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo coroner’s mortuary served with eviction notice