Decomposing bodies were found at an improperly run and unlicensed funeral home in upstate New York, police announced this weekend.

Officers in Johnstown stated on Saturday that an investigation had on Friday turned up several bodies and cremated ashes at the Ehle-Barnett Funeral Home. Police first began looking into the situation on Monday when a family reported being unable to reach owner Brian M. Barnett for weeks after contracting his business for cremation services.

The early investigation into the matter revealed that Barnett's funeral home license had been suspended in late November, and that the home operated out of had never been licensed and was not properly set up to house remains. After several unsuccessful attempts to reach Barnett, the business owner reached out to police himself and confirmed that the remains the family was concerned about were still in his possession.