COVENTRY, Conn. -- A Coventry mortician faces accusations of auctioning off a deceased woman's possessions.

Kevin Riley runs the Coventry Funeral Home on Boston Turnpike in Coventry.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Eric Parker reported that Riley, who has a state contract, has made more than $400,000 transporting bodies for the medical examiner and providing burials for individuals without local relatives.

Investigators said Riley picked up the body of Julia Drozd, 91, at her Meriden home and later auctioned off some of the woman's belongings. Investigators said Riley was preparing to sell the woman's home.

Those who know Riley, who insists this is all a misunderstanding, have suspicions about the allegations.

"I'm sure it wasn't anything. I don't think there was any malice. I don't think he was a crook," said Patricia Corcoran, a neighbor.

Riley's lawyer, David Ruth, said Riley has been asked to clean and sell the deceased's homes in other cases.

"Then the assets are turned over to whomever the court orders, typically family members," Ruth said. "When he was notified that he had exceeded the scope of his authority, he immediately stopped what he was doing and turned over all the property to the fiduciary who was appointed and he told the court and the fiduciary that he made an honest mistake."

Lawyers for Drozd's family are now asking that Riley provide a list of what was sold from the home. The estate's lawyer said his concern is that Drozd's mentally disabled 75-year-old son get what he's entitled to from his mother's estate.

Riley has apologized for the misunderstanding and has turned over the money he made from selling the items.

All the assets are currently being held by the estate's lawyer. The state Department of Health said an investigation is underway.

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