Imogene Jackson gets the last laugh: Pipkin Mortuary receives cease-and-desist order after body swap mistake

Yesterday, we told you about the strange case of Imogene Jackson, who was mistakenly buried in place of another woman with the same last name -- who happened to wind up in the open coffin of a wake held to honor Imogene. This incident took place at Pipkin Mortuary, which...

By Michael Roberts

February 2, 2010

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Yesterday, we told you about the strange case of Imogene Jackson, who was mistakenly buried in place of another woman with the same last name -- who happened to wind up in the open coffin of a wake held to honor Imogene.

This incident took place at Pipkin Mortuary, which was subsequently accused of placing a dead male child in a pink coffin against the wishes of his parents. But this fine establishment will have fewer chances to make similar gaffes thanks to actions by the state's Department of Regulatory Agencies, which has slapped Pipkin with a cease-and-desist order. The unregistered (!) mortuary is precluded from taking new clients pending the results of an investigation into the Jackson-for-Jackson exchange and can only complete scheduled services through February 9.

Bet these particular customers will be watching the Pipkin staff very closely. See the DORA press release below:

DORA's Division of Registrations Director Issues Cease & Desist Order of Pipkin Mortuary in Denver

DENVER -- Director Rosemary McCool of DORA's Division of Registrations today issued a cease and desist order for Pipkin Mortuary run by Mark Pipkin of Denver. The order restricts Mr. Pipkin from taking any new contracts effective immediately and allows for the existing funerals to continue through Tuesday, February 9.

Mr. Pipkin failed to register his mortuary, which is now required under Colorado law. The law went into effect January 1, 2010. Mr. Pipkin dropped off an application today for registration, but Director McCool will not process it until an investigation is complete on the switching of bodies reported in the Jackson cases. The family of Imogene Jackson, who was remembered Saturday, reported that her body arrived almost an hour late to the funeral, after Pipkin Mortuary misplaced her remains and initially put the wrong person in the casket.

"Our investigation on this case began immediately when we learned of the story from the media" said McCool. "I hope to get to the bottom of why this problem may have occurred in the first place and prevent it from happening again."

Following DORA's investigation of Pipkin Morturary, Director McCool will review the application for registration and determine whether or not registration with or without restrictions will be granted.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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