Mothermelters: The inside story of Cryonics and the Dora Kent Homicide

"MotherMelters" is former Riverside County Coroner Investigator Alan Kunzman''s inside story of the investigation into cryonics, and Alcor Life Extension Foundations incriminating involvement in the decapitation and subsequent homicide of Dora Kent. Finally after 15 years he tells his lurid story of the Dora Kent homicide and the incomprehensible manner in which Riverside County Coroner Raymond Carrillo was administering his office.

"MotherMelters'' has provided Investigator Alan Kunzman with the path to finally disclose what took place behind the ivy covered walls of the Riverside County Coroners office during the Dora Kent homicide investigation, the most media drenched case of his law enforcement career. 

From the investigators perspective you will discover the seedy world of Alcor Life Extension Foundation and the manner in which they represented cryonics during his investigation. He exposes the unqualified people that played the parts of scientists, doctors, surgeons and legitimate medically trained professionals,  yet most of the participants held no license or degree with the exception of one,  Dr. Harris.

"MotherMelters" brings to light Alcor Life Extensions affiliation with the church of Venturism, which was located in Arizona and used to recruit new members into Alcor.  Once signed, the new member was directed to purchase life insurance through other Alcor members insurance agencies. They were told they had to list Alcor as the beneficiary in order to cover the costs of decapitation and preservation until the end of time.

"MotherMelters" exposes the side of cryonics that is never disclosed in the documentaries that continue to be broadcast on national television. The hosts of these programs have never asked the right questions, they simply continue to play into their unscrupulous hands and unwittingly help legitimize cryonics.

Alan Kunzman has over 20 years of experience in law enforcement and corporate investigations. He first entered law enforcement in 1980 as a patrolman and ended his career in municipal law enforcement having been Chief of Police of three departments.

Throughout his career he moved through the ranks quickly, from patrolman to detective to Lieutenant and Chief of Police.  He worked undercover narcotics, was Commander of the Guthrie Oklahoma Emergency Services team (SWAT), and served as Watch Commander and Operations Lieutenant.  

In the mid to late 80’s he was a Senior Deputy Coroner Investigator with the Riverside County Coroners office in Riverside California. It was during his tenure as a Senior Deputy Coroner Investigator he became involved in the Dora Kent investigation.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1973 as a Hospital Corpsman, serving two tours of duty in Viet Nam. After his military service he was a member of the first class of Paramedics to train in the city of Riverside California in 1974.  

He now resides in the mid-west with his wife Sarah of 24 years and his two sons Jeremy and Derek.  His twin sons Jason and Chad reside on the west coast with their families.

The receptionist at Carewest nursing home heard the front doors open and looked up from her desk.  Almost instantly, her pleasant greeting smile was replaced by a disapproving frown as she saw the two white-smocked men enter pushing a gurney.  All patient deliveries and pick-ups were supposed to be done at the home's rear entrance.  An ambulance at the front door invariably meant a problem and was known to unsettle some of the residents.  "May I help you?"  She asked coolly. 

"We're here to pick up Dora Kent for a transfer."  The thin, stoop-shouldered man with the chalky skin smiled politely.  "My mother." 

The receptionist's hand instinctively reached for the phone.  "I'll need to call the charge nurse."  She made the call and spoke a few barely audible words.  After returning the phone to its cradle she looked back up at the pale man.  "The nurse in charge will be here shortly."

The man nodded.  His expression did not reveal whether he felt any disappointment at the delay.

The charge nurse was in her early fifties, slightly plump, and her hair was darkened artificially to a monotone brown.  She walked the hallway with the metronomic step and ramrod purpose of a Marine Drill instructor.  She recognized the pale-skinned man.  Her smile was polite but held no pretense of warmth.  "May I help you, Mister Kent?"   

"I'm here to transfer Dora Kent to my house."  Kent stated evenly.

One of the nurse's darkly penciled eyebrows raised slightly.  "Transfer?  Your mother?  Is something wrong?"  Her voice was calm and professional.  She took great pride in her job.  This was her domain, and the pronouncement of someone removing a patient from her care was a very serious matter.  Almost a personal affront.  

"No, we're just taking Dora home."  Kent explained.

Eighty-three year old Dora Kent had been brought to the rest home 18 months earlier to live out her remaining days and nights.  She had advanced Alzheimer's and several other ailments, which were characteristic of an elderly person in decline.  Though the deterioration was slow it was steady and inevitable. 

That particular morning Dora had actually experienced one of her better days.  Dora had remembered who she was, and some of her past, though the light of awareness had quickly dimmed.  She'd even been able to converse, though only in fractured Yiddish.  But why take Dora out now? 

It was the nurse's nature to be suspicious of people who wanted to remove a patient from her care.  Even though Saul Kent had always voiced concern for his mother, the nurse had never detected any true feelings behind his actions.  To her experienced eye it had appeared as if Kent had concocted a prescription label schedule of the proper amount of time to spend with his mother.  He had stuck to the formula, never increasing or decreasing the frequency or length of the visits.  And perhaps it was nothing more than the unsettling feeling she always had when Kent was present.  There was just something about him... "As I'm sure you are aware she requires constant, 'round the clock attention."  She stated.  And what game was Kent playing by showing up in a white medical coat?