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The daughter of a man whose remains were found inside a former funeral home said the home's owner put her "to hell and back."
Kimberly Wall spoke exclusively with WSOC-TV after her father's rotting corpse was discovered inside McLendon Funeral Home during a search by authorities Wednesday.
"The point of not knowing. You can't explain it, it's just someone I wouldn't wish on no one," Wall said.
Wall had been demanding to know the whereabouts of her father's remains since Marshall Allen died in November 2011 at age 63 of pneumonia.
Wall said she paid Mary McLendon $1,500 for a viewing and cremation services, but said McLendon never delivered Allen's remains.
"It was just excuses after excuses after excuses why she hadn't produced his remains to me," Wall said.
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In 2012, McLendon's business was shuttered by state investigators following similar allegations involving the proper disposal of bodies. No criminal charges were filed at that time.
After WSOC-TV reported on McLendon's eviction and troubles with the state, Wall said she contacted police to file a criminal report regarding her father. Two months later, McLendon was charged with obtaining property by false pretenses, a case that went to trial this week.
McLendon was convicted Wednesday, thanks in part to emotional testimony on the stand given by Wall.
As the judge was sentencing McLendon to 17 months in prison, court officials said she confessed to knowing where Allen's remains were -- still inside her former business.
"When she said it was at the funeral home, it was like, really? After all this time?" Wall said.
Authorities searched the property for several hours and uncovered Allen's remains along with another corpse, which has yet to be identified. (WSOC-TV)
"I wish she could have been charged with murder or something because she killed a part of me when she did that," Wall said. "She destroyed so many lives that they can't put back together."
Wall said she is anxious to finally receive her father's remains but is still not at peace with what happened.
"He didn't deserve that, and I didn't either," she said.
McLendon is currently in prison in Raleigh serving her 17-month sentence. Police said new criminal charges against her could come as early as next week.
WSOC-TV has learned McLendon has lengthy history of violations dating back to 2006.
According to the North Carolina Board of Funeral Services, those violations include changing dates on death certificates, using funeral funds for her own use, and failing to refund clients.
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