NORTHAMPTON — William W. Ryder, the embattled former director of Ryder Funeral Home in South Hadley which was shut down in 2014, was back in court Tuesday after he violated conditions of his release last weekend.
Ryder, who has remained free on personal recognizance, tested positive for alcohol consumption when he took a mandatory random screening Monday, First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven E. Gagne said in court.
As part of Ryder’s release conditions, he is required to report to probation twice a week, alert the probation department of any changes in contact information and abstain from alcohol, according to court records.
Ryder succumbed to a “moment of weakness” on Sunday, said his attorney Alan Rubin, of the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
As a result, Judge Richard Carey ordered that Ryder be required to take alcohol screenings at home by using a breath-testing device.
Ryder has pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to more than five dozen counts of larceny greater than $250 as well as several counts of improper disposition of a human body.
His funeral home was shut down by local and state officials after regulators found several bodies in various states of decomposition and improperly stored.
Ryder allegedly embezzled roughly $375,180 from 70 customers through prepaid funeral arrangements he had between 2001 and 2014.
The case also resulted in eight different lawsuits filed by families, a former employee and the state attorney general.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5234.