A former Minnesota funeral director has been sentenced to jail after admitting he disposed of a woman’s body in a wooded area instead of carrying out her cremation.
Former Funeral Director Sentenced
Benjamin Hanson, 57, pleaded guilty to hiding a corpse in connection with the remains of 92-year-old Alyce Peterson.
Peterson died in July 2001, and Hanson was responsible for handling her cremation while working at a funeral home in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Remains Identified Years Later
In 2002, Boy Scouts discovered human remains in a wooded area of Wisconsin. Nearly two decades later, DNA analysis identified the remains as Peterson’s.
Investigators determined that Peterson’s family had been given ashes they were told belonged to her, despite her body not being properly cremated.
Investigation Revealed Misconduct
Authorities found that Hanson had been working at the funeral home during a troubled period in his life and was later fired from the business.
Investigators were unable to determine how Peterson’s remains ended up in Wisconsin or where the rest of her body may be located.
Jail Sentence Ordered
Hanson was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty.
As part of his sentence, he was also ordered to take prescribed medication, participate in mental health treatment and avoid working in the funeral industry in the future.
A separate theft charge was dismissed as part of the case.
