Nationwide — The family of Estella Washington, a 74-year-old African American woman from New York, found her body among dozens of remains at an unlicensed funeral home. The shocking discovery has reopened her daughter’s grief and raised serious questions about the facility’s operations.
Estella Washington passed away on November 25, 2025, and her memorial was held at Camelot Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. Her family expected her cremation to follow soon after, but they never received her remains.
Her daughter, Aloma Washington, recalled what the funeral home owner, Michael Naughton, allegedly told her, “I know you’re taking this hard, so if you’re not ready to bring her home yet, I understand. Mom will be safe here with me.”
According to WLBT, a state inspection revealed 13 decomposing bodies inside the funeral home, including Estella’s, with two stacked in the garage. Investigators also found 17 boxes of cremated remains in the basement and could not locate a single death certificate for any of the deceased.
Aloma said the situation has left her stunned and grieving all over again. “He never let on that there was anything going on,” she said. “All the way in November, you’re still taking bodies, and you know you shouldn’t be.”
Naughton had his license revoked in 2019, and the funeral home was repeatedly closed and reopened. Despite being unlicensed, the funeral home conducted more than 20 services since reopening in August 2025. He now faces charges for operating without a license and is set to return to court later this month.