Trustee criticized for his intention to turn unclaimed leftovers into diamonds

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LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Former employees, government officials and other sources have criticized Fairfield Township administrator Taletha Coles for what they call her bizarre and irrational ideas.

Perhaps most disturbing, according to these sources at News 18, was his intention to turn unclaimed cremated remains of township residents into diamonds.

News 18 reported on Coles’ plans to build a fire station, buy a helicopter and hold bonfires at Greenbush Cemetery. But this idea implies the responsibility of the municipality to pay for the cremation of people who cannot afford it themselves.

Former township worker Kelli Stump says these people are often homeless with few resources or family members, and their cremated remains are often unclaimed and stored at the Fisher Funeral Chapel.

Stump says Coles asked him to set up a meeting with the funeral home to squeeze the diamond remains.

“It was the most disturbing thing,” she said.

Another former employee, Trisha Fogleman, says Coles asked a family to return the ashes of a woman whose cremation was paid for by the township.

“We were going to pay for a lady to be cremated in April,” she said. “One of the lady’s sons picked up the ashes at Fisher Funeral Home and I had to call Jonathan Fisher and ask him to come back and say, ‘You get them from them or we don’t pay for them. “”

Fisher, director of Fisher Funeral Home, says he ultimately paid for this cremation. He confirmed that Coles had inquired about pressing the creams into diamonds.

He says the meeting was presented to him as an opportunity to talk about Greenbush Cemetery when the issue popped up out of nowhere. He adds that he didn’t think she was serious because the process is very expensive.

But Stump and Fogleman say Coles wasn’t kidding.

“I screamed at the top of my lungs, ‘She’s serious,'” Stump said. “I know it sounds absolutely crazy, and I know I sound crazy to even relay it. She’s serious about turning these poor people literally into diamonds.”

Fisher says the funeral home no longer stores cremains for the township and stores very few unclaimed cremains. Former Coles employees allege the remains are now stored in a safe in the trustee’s office.

News 18 asked Cole to ask questions about the allegations, but she did not respond.

Municipality under verification

As News 18 previously reported, former township employees and township board members highlighted some of Coles’ questionable purchases, including $ 5,000 for exercise equipment from the rainy day fund. and a brand new Ford F-250 pickup purchased in 2019.

Coles also failed to file the 2021 budget approved by city council with the state.

A spokesperson for the Indiana State Board of Accounts confirmed Thursday that Coles and the township are currently undergoing an audit.

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