Funeral Home Boosts Security

MEDFORD, Ore. - The district attorney's office and a funeral home have stepped up security after a funeral director was convicted in a case involving the sexual molestation of the corpse of a murder victim.

Deputy District Attorney John Bondurant said only law-enforcement authorities now have a key to the compartment where bodies are kept while awaiting autopsy.

Conger Morris Funeral Home now employs live-in caretakers to boost security, said general manager Steven Morris.

The steps were taken after a felony charge of corpse abuse was brought last summer against funeral director Bradford Simas, 33. He was allowed to plead guilty late last week to a misdemeanor charge of tampering with evidence in the murder of Leah Lavis in 1991.