Former Downard Funeral Home director trial set

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - Attorneys for former Pocatello funeral home owner and director Lance Peck were back in court Monday. 

A trial date was set for Peck during the pre-trial conference. Bannock County Judge Aaron Thompson set the trial for October 10.

It is expected to last for three weeks because of the massive amount of information they will be going through.

Peck is facing 63 misdemeanor charges most of them relating to the morticians code of ethics.

Downard Funeral Home in Pocatello shut down in Sept. 2021,  after investigators discovered 12 decomposing corpses along with the remains of 50 fetuses.

Peck is currently out on bond.

He did not appear in court Monday but in a conference with his attorney Richard Blok.

He said they are glad to see things moving along.

"Lance is glad to have the opportunity to show that although he has made some mistakes he is not the monster he has been made out to be."

Family members who were at the trial today Linda Larsen they are frustrated with how slow the process is going, and that no felony charges have been filed.

Relatives of Julie Moore, one of the victims, said, "This guy doesn’t deserve to be out free."

The dates were also set for some pre trial motions; however, the judge said both parties are willing to try and mediate the case before the trial.