Anonymous tip off leads to discovery of 11 baby bodies in US funeral home

Local authorities say nine baby bodies have been found in a cardboard box and two found in caskets in a Detroit funeral home which closed six months ago.

Police say the decomposed bodies had been carefully hidden in the ceiling of the closed funeral home. Source: AAP

Detroit police say the bodies of 11 babies have been found hidden in a ceiling of a funeral home that the state of Michigan closed six months ago.

Authorities said inspectors found the bodies on Friday at the Cantrell Funeral Home on the city's east side after an anonymous letter told them where to find the infant bodies. 

"The letter detailed the existence of human remains inside the funeral home," detective Brian Bowser told reporters. "They were met here by the current owner who admitted them entry. They went to the location described in the letter and located a couple boxes. One box and one small casket."

Detective Bowser said the box was stored in a "false ceiling" between the first and second floors. 

Police said nine bodies were found in a cardboard box and two were found in caskets.

Detroit police ordered a search of the building to ensure there are no additional bodies inside.

Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs suspended the license of the funeral home in April after inspectors found decomposing embalmed bodies and other violations.

Violations also included two improperly stored bodies covered in what appeared to be mould and a third body with unknown fluids covering the facial area.