The owners of a now-shuttered cremation service in Charles County face criminal charges following allegations of mishandling vulnerable human remains, marking a significant escalation in a case that has drawn statewide scrutiny over funeral industry oversight.
On February 19, 2026, Maryland State Police filed applications for statements of charges with the District Court of Maryland Commissioner against Brandon Angelo Williams, 50, and Rosa Iyonna Williams, 48, both residents of Waldorf and operators of Heaven Bound Cremation Services, LLC. The commissioner approved eight separate counts of Improper Disposal of Human Remains against each defendant. Seven counts involve seven different fetuses, while one count concerns the remains of an infant approximately two months old.
State’s Attorney for Charles County Tony Covington announced the development, emphasizing that arrest warrants were issued for both individuals. Court dates will be set after the defendants are taken into custody and appear before the court. Authorities stressed that the charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The charges stem from the troubled history of Heaven Bound Cremation Services, LLC, based in White Plains, Charles County. In January 2025, the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors summarily suspended the facility’s crematory permit (CR0037) effective immediately due to grave public health and safety violations. Inspectors documented a non-operational cremation chamber leading to accumulated remains, bodies stored in unsealed boxes and torn body bags with exposed parts, at least 18 bodies held above 40°F, signs of decomposition including strong odors, flies, and bodily fluids on floors, and one decomposing body present since March 2024. The Charles County Department of Health deemed conditions a public health hazard and ordered abatement.
The facility’s owners—Rosa Williams as sole owner since December 2016 (operator registration RC184) and Brandon Williams as part-owner since June 2018 (registration RC245)—had faced prior disciplinary actions. Complaints dating to December 2017 revealed commingling of cremains, improper disposal, and storage alongside biohazard waste, with Rosa Williams admitting in writing to improper cremains disposal. A 2019 hearing resulted in a reprimand, fines, and one-year probation including ethics training for her, later extended to two years in January 2021. A 2024 inspection uncovered similar unsanitary conditions, prompting September 2024 consent orders: a 10-day suspension and $2,000 fine for Rosa Williams, plus probation and recertification requirements for Brandon Williams.
These events contributed to broader reforms. On February 12, 2025, Governor Wes Moore launched a comprehensive review of the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors to strengthen oversight of licensing, enforcement, and procedures amid public health concerns. Attorney Charles P. Scheeler was appointed to lead the assessment and recommend changes to Moore and the Maryland General Assembly. Moore stated, “There is no higher responsibility for any administration than protecting the health and safety of Marylanders. Today, we further honor our commitment to that pledge.”
The Heaven Bound case, including the January 2025 shutdown, directly informed the governor’s initiative, highlighting gaps in ensuring respectful and hygienic handling of remains.