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PHENIX CITY, Alabama — Russell County authorities have seized Sumbry Mortuary in Phenix City, ending four months of legal wrangling.

The Russell County Sheriff’s Department enforced an order by Macon County District Judge Aubrey Ford Jr., entering the funeral home Tuesday afternoon. A moving company carted away items from the family business owned by Arthur Sumbry Sr.

The seizure of the business ended a stalemate between Sumbry and Columbus-based Synovus Bank, which records show executed a mortgage with the business in 1996. Synovus initially filed a “Complaint for Ejectment” on Feb. 7 of this year, saying Sumbry had defaulted on his mortgage last year, with the property being foreclosed upon Nov. 1, 2010.

The closing comes two months before Sumbry is scheduled to stand trial on charges of perjury and forgery. Sumbry, 70, a Phenix City councilman, is charged with forging a warranty deed and lying about it under oath during a 2009 hearing in Russell County Circuit Court.

Sheriff Heath Taylor says movers found a body in the funeral home. Taylor says the body was taken to the morgue and officials are working with the family to take it to another funeral home.

Read the full story from the Ledger-Enquirer.

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