Funeral home accused of giving thousands of pet owners 'fake ashes' as shocking truth of where actual remains went revealed
A funeral home has been accused of giving thousands of grieving pet owners the ashes of other animals.
The owner of a Pittsburgh pet mortuary home Patrick Vereb, 70, promised clients that their beloved pets would receive proper cremations and burials - returning their ashes.
Instead, he dumped the pets in a landfill and gave their owners the remains of unknown animals.
The owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial reportedly defrauded approximately £490,000 from 6,500 customers.
He also tricked those who opted to have their animals buried in a 'common' grave with other pets, throwing them in the bin instead of burying them.
Mr Vereb has been charged with theft by deception, receiving stolen property and deceptive business practices, according to Pennsylvania 's Attorney General Dave Sunday.
'From 2021 and 2024, Mr Vereb neglected his duty of care by deliberately and repeatedly betraying his customers who wanted a dignified service for their beloved dog or cat,' Mr Sunday said.
He added that Mr Vereb's clients had spent a 'significant amount of money' on the funeral director's services, warning that it affected victims between 2021 and 2024.
Mr Vereb's employees began to suspect wrongdoing in late July, NBC News reported.
According to a critical complaint one worker said the business appeared to be taking in 'far more numbers of animals than what he was cremating.'
Authorities said he eventually admitted to fooling customers.
'Vereb admitted that if he didn't have the ashes for a pet, he gave the owners ashes from another animal to "make them feel good for the day, if nothing else," a court document said.
'Vereb admitted he lied to the pet owners and told them their pets were buried with other animals.'
He is free until his next scheduled court appearance May 9.
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