Grisly discoveries of human remains in two self-storage facilities in the Massachusetts communities of Weymouth and Somerville on back-to-back days have residents on edge.
"Very creepy, very creepy, close to home," Weymouth resident Lauren Mullaney said.
"It’s disgusting, you know they should have been put where they belong," Fred Hallisey, another Weymouth resident, said.
Investigators with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office say "multiple sets of adult remains" were found in a unit at the Public Storage facility on Main Street in Weymouth. Officials could be seen removing remains along with caskets throughout Thursday afternoon.
Wednesday, investigators say cremated remains were found at a U-Haul storage facility on Linwood Street in Somerville.
The DA’s office says it’s all connected to the investigation surrounding unlicensed Dorchester funeral home director Joseph O’Donnell, who was arrested back in April on larceny charges for allegedly spending thousands of dollars in pre-paid funeral funds.
"It’s just unthinkable, honestly it makes me sick for those families, I can only think how it’s just disrespectful," Weymouth resident Liz Nell said.
O’Donnell had operated O’Donnell and Mulry Funeral Home on Neponset Avenue, which has since closed down.
Presley Nelson, who lives near funeral home, said, "He was a nice guy."
Neighbors say they never would have expected O’Donnell to be tied to an investigation of this nature.
"I’m shocked, I mean I know he had some issue with the business with the funeral home but that’s all I know, that’s too bad," Nelson said.
O'Donnell has been held on $10,000 cash bail since his April 10 arrest. He is due back in court Friday. Meanwhile, investigators say their top priority is determining the identities of the remains. They say they do not believe their deaths were the result of foul play, but are focused on their placement in the storage units.
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