Walker County Residents Remember the Events at Tri-State Crematory 14 Years Ago

The incredible story made world-wide news 14 years ago.
The operator of a north Georgia crematory just stopped doing his job, and more than 300 bodies, in various stages of decomposition, were found scattered around the property.
It was hard to believe that could actually happen.
The story will likely be told for decades to come.

It was on this day 14 years ago that that the word got around—there were un-cremated bodies lying around at the Tri-State crematory in Noble, Georgia. Young Ray Brent Marsh had taken over the crematory from his father 6 years earlier, but apparently cared little about doing what funeral homes all over the area were paying him for. He ended up going to jail for 12 years.

MCCRACKEN POSTON,MARSH’S DEFENSE ATTORNEY “787 felony counts…the way they charged Brent Marsh, he was facing more than 8000 years of imprisonment.”

Everyone wanted to know, how could he do such a thing?

MCCRACKEN POSTON “Through the compromised machinery there , there was a lot vaporized mercury being breathed in by both him and his father.”

Mercury is a neurotoxin–it’s produced by burning dental work.

Over the next three months, as the world’s news organizations watched, Walker county’s resources were stretched to the limit as all efforts were directed at scouring every inch of the property.

SHERIFF STEVE WILSON, WALKER COUNTY “It’ll certainly be remembered for a long time…it’s a case that put Noble on the map.”

There were hundreds of lawsuits filed by families. And few were accepting Marsh’s apology.

RAY BRENT MARSH, 2003 “They must start the healing, I ask forgiveness for my sin”.

Sheriff Steve Wilson said his office was mainly concerned for Marsh’s safety. Threats were coming in daily.
But there was another concern.

STEVE WILSON “All during the entire time my number one focus was on the families of those individuals involved, that were involved with loved ones who had been sent there.”

Brent Marsh is within a few months of serving his entire sentence.
He’s expected to be released in June.

A memorial was later erected at the Tennessee-Georgia cemetery on Hogan Road to remember those whose remains were found at the crematory site, and the families who were affected by one of the strangest events in Walker county history.