( CNN ) -- Police in Allendale , South Carolina , are investigating whether a funeral home fit a 6-foot , 5-inch man into his coffin by severing his legs . The wife of James Hines reportedly said the funeral home told her that her husband 's coffin was long enough . A former Cave Funeral Services employee has alleged since James Hines ' death from skin cancer in 2004 that Hines was too tall for his coffin and that the funeral home took extreme measures to make him fit , Allendale County Coroner Hayzen Black told CNN . Officials exhumed Hines ' body Tuesday , Black said , and a fair amount of `` undesirable evidence '' was found , although he could not comment further . The coroner 's office handed the case over to law enforcement officials for a criminal investigation , he said . Allendale Police Detective Donnie Hutto told CNN affiliate WJBF-TV that he could not comment on the condition of the body . A Cave Funeral Services employee had no comment when asked about the matter . But Ruth Hines , widow of the dead man , told WJBF that the allegations and exhumation of Hines ' body are difficult for her . `` I 'm just going through quite a bit , '' she said . `` It 's like starting all over again , and it 's left me with hurt and numbness . '' `` According to the measurements on the casket , and the funeral director , we asked him , 'Was this suitable for his length ? ' and he said , 'Yes that will be perfect , ' '' Ruth Hines said . Hines told WJBF that her family has used Cave Funeral Services for a number of years , and she is n't sure what the family will do in the future if the allegations are true .
At 6 ' 5 '' , former employee says James Hines ' was too tall for coffin after death in Tuesday . Employee told authorities that funeral home took extreme measures to make him fit . Officials exhume body 2004 , find `` undesirable evidence , '' county coroner says . Black employee would not comment .