A Houston case where an unlicensed funeral director allegedly faked documents, stole a decedent’s estate, and stored human remains has sparked outrage, criminal charges, and questions about oversight and accountability.

This story begins in Houston, where 78-year-old Lawrence Gammon was found dead at home and a funeral home was hired to handle his remains. With no local family, the job went to Community Funeral Home, and what followed looks like a crime spree masked as funeral services. The emergency welfare check that revealed his death set off a chain of events no one expected.

The funeral director at the center of the case is Michael Green, who was reportedly operating without a license and identifies as transgender. Prosecutors say Green filed a fraudulent will claiming to be Gammon’s common-law wife and used falsified documents to open accounts in Gammon’s name. Authorities allege Green took vehicles, a house and nearly $2.2 million from the estate while pretending to be the sole heir.

When law enforcement raided the funeral home in November 2025, investigators found human organs and cremated remains dating back to 2023, including Gammon’s, evidence the business was not following basic rules for handling remains. Gammon’s family, who had provided personal details to arrange services, had never heard of Green and say they did not authorize any of this.

Gammon’s out-of-state family, after learning of his death through the welfare check they requested from police, contacted Green for funeral services and provided personal information over email, according to records.

One of the family members told Houston PD he had “no idea Defendant used this information for fraud,” records state.

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Within weeks of Gammon’s death, records show Green allegedly filed a fraudulent last will and testament claiming to be Gammon’s common-law spouse — and sole heir to his entire estate.

“Her loyalty and companionship during those times of vulnerability only deepened my gratitude and reinforced my desire to ensure her well-being after my passing,” the alleged fraudulent document reads.

But Adam Brodrick, the chief of consumer fraud at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, said the two had no connection before his death.

While pretending to be his widow, Green allegedly stole Gammon’s three vehicles, his home on Tottenham Drive, and nearly $2.2 million from his bank accounts, according to records.

Green now faces five felony charges, including theft, forgery, and tampering with government records, charges that carry serious penalties if proven in court. The case reads like a catalog of fraud and exploitation, and local prosecutors say they are still piecing together the full scope of the crimes. This is a law and order problem plain and simple.

When Green left court, he told reporters, “I’m a celebrity,” and then said the organs found in his funeral home “were for you to eat for lunch.” Those comments stunned families and officials who expected solemnity and respect from funeral professionals. The remarks do nothing to inspire confidence in someone accused of exploiting the dead and their relatives.

Sick. Very demented. A very bad idea.

According to authorities, Green hoodwinked several families and moved quickly to claim property and cash after Gammon’s death. He was released after posting an $800,000 bond and is due back in court in early September, a timeline that leaves neighbors and victims anxious for swifter accountability. The bond and the celebrity comments have only added fuel to public frustration.

Prosecutors believe there are likely more victims and are urging anyone with information to contact investigators, while officials continue to sort through records and remains seized at the funeral home. Beyond this one case, the bigger issue is oversight: how does an unlicensed operator allegedly run a funeral business and amass access to estates and remains without earlier detection? That question is as important as the criminal prosecution itself and deserves attention from regulators and lawmakers.