Nearly 400 bodies were found piled up in a neglected crematorium warehouse in Ciudad Juarez, near the US-Mexico border. None of the bodies were cremated as expected. “Just thrown like that, indiscriminately, one on top of the other,” said Eloy Garcia of the Chihuahua state prosecutor’s office.

Officials reported 383 bodies and six sets of fragmentary remains. Of those identified, 218 were male, 149 female, and 16 unknown. All had been embalmed, and some had hospital ID tags with names and social security numbers. Some bodies may have been there for up to two years.

The facility, linked to six or seven funeral homes, was operated by José Luis Arellano Cuaron and his employee Facundo MR, both now in custody. They face charges for improper handling and disrespect of human remains.

State Attorney General César Jáuregui Moreno confirmed the men will stay in prison until trial and added, “We will seek the highest possible penalty… to minimize the re-victimization of families.”

Authorities are also working with families of the deceased to provide support and determine reparations.