Serenity Memorial Group President Addresses Controversial Allegations Against Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office

BULLHEAD CITY — Mohave County is reevaluating its medical examiner services amid rising concerns about misinformation related to the current contract administration. John Hassett, president of Serenity Memorial Group, has been at the forefront of this situation since he stepped in three years ago when the county’s Chief Pathologist, Dr. Archiaus Mosley, contemplated retirement.

After a lack of competitive responses to the county’s request for proposals, Hassett’s company secured a $92,500 monthly contract, entailing both administrative support and postmortem examinations through Mosley. However, this arrangement has not been without controversy. Several funeral homes in the county allege conflicts of interest and corruption.

“The initial challenges primarily came from some funeral homes, particularly Naomi Bradbury, who raised frequent complaints,” Hassett stated. Bradbury owns Bradbury Memorial Center in Lake Havasu City and has been a vocal critic of the system’s nuances.

The term “missing bodies” has become a point of contention. Hassett expressed concern over its usage, attributing it to a lack of understanding among critics. He clarified that the discrepancies in reported and actual cases often arise from incomplete notifications of deaths by hospitals and hospices.

He noted, “If the ME’s office reports 20 deaths, and a funeral home claims to have 22, it doesn’t mean we’re disputing their cases; we simply weren’t informed about all of them.” The rotational schedule for funeral homes is controlled by the Mohave County Public Fiduciary Office rather than the ME’s office, further complicating these issues.

Mohave County Manager Sam Elters has defended Serenity, stating that previous allegations made by competing funeral homes lack validity. He assured that ongoing oversight, including monthly meetings, has been established between the county and Serenity Memorial Group.

Meanwhile, Mohave County Health Director Melissa Palmer confirmed that administrative reviews occur regularly, including financial document assessments prior to approving payments to the contractor.

In October 2022, Hassett sold his funeral home businesses but retained the Serenity name for the county contract. Adding to the scrutiny, a February investigation by the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office examined misconduct claims against Serenity. Sheriff Doug Schuster disclosed at a subsequent Board of Supervisors meeting that no criminal activity was found during the inquiry.

Despite the lack of evidence, Hassett lamented the impact of the inquiry on his business, stating, “No one reached out to us during the investigation, which led to significant distress within our team.” The original contract with Serenity was intended as a stopgap while the county planned a more permanent solution, including the development of a morgue. However, budget constraints halted those plans.

At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, a proposed one-year extension and a three-year contract with Serenity were both voted down. The county will now continue on a month-to-month agreement as officials assess the feasibility of bringing medical examiner services in-house.

Reflecting on his time, Hassett remarked, “It has been an honor to work alongside county staff. Their commitment has impressed me, and it’s disheartening to see this chapter closing.”