A crematorium ordered to shut down over allegations its owner mishandled human remains can reopen under state supervision pending a licensing hearing, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Seepe Funeral Home and Crematorium was shut down last week over claims that owner Mark Seepe commingled bone fragments and cremations, dumped partially cremated remains in a trash bin and gave the wrong remains to relatives of the dead.

Hinds County Chancery Judge Dewayne Thomas ruled that the business can reopen under the oversight of a Mississippi Board of Funeral Service member or someone designated by that person.

The crematorium’s employees also must adhere to industry standards.

In his ruling, Thomas said the funeral board had not proven that a criminal act occurred. However, he said Seepe used a broken crematorium and his “actions or lack of actions did result in the commingling of human remains.”

The ruling, which dissolves a temporary restraining order issued last Thursday, will expire April 28, when the funeral board holds a licensing hearing on the matter. The funeral board regulates the mortuary industry in Mississippi.

Merrida Coxwell, Seepe’s attorney, said the judge made the right decision.

“I’m not displeased with it. I understand these are emotional issues,” Coxwell said. “What he did allows Mr. Seepe to operate if he follows industry standards.”

Attorney General Jim Hood asked for the injunction last week at the request of the state funeral board, which has met with distraught families who are concerned about the nature of the cremated remains returned to them by the funeral home.

The investigation of the crematorium began after a former employee, Lori Wilkinson, came forward with pictures that appear to show the bones of several people mixed in a 55-gallon drum. She told authorities she saw Seepe shoveling bones into a wheelbarrow when the crematory was undergoing repairs, then dumping the load in a barrel for disposal.

Josh Hatten, another former employee, filed a complaint in November claiming Seepe gave remains to a family before their relative had been cremated. The family is suing Seepe for $5 million.