Pittsburgh funeral director accused of throwing out thousands of pets' bodies

Pennsylvania ceremonial manager accused of throwing retired thousands of pets' bodies

Pennsylvania ceremonial manager accused of throwing retired thousands of pets' bodies 08:32

A Pittsburgh ceremonial location manager is facing charges aft prosecutors said helium threw retired the bodies of thousands of pets and gave owners the ashes of different animals.  

Seventy-year-old Patrick Vereb, the proprietor of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial, is accused of stealing much than $650,000 from implicit 6,500 customers who paid for favored burial and cremation services betwixt 2021 and 2024, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General announced connected Monday. 

Funeral manager accused of throwing pets successful landfill 

Through astir 20 veterinary practices and businesses, prosecutors said Vereb collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from favored owners who were promised a backstage cremation for their pet. But investigators said Vereb threw galore of the pets retired astatine a landfill, giving customers the ashes of other, chartless animals.

Tiffany Mantzouridis told KDKA-TV there were respective reddish flags erstwhile she was an intern astatine Vereb Funeral Home. She said the pets' bodies were kept successful garbage bags connected apical of freezers and determination were discrepancies successful recordkeeping. 

"He would instrumentality the ashes backmost from the crematory, and they travel backmost successful a large container with integrative bags with twist ties connected them that person the metallic tag twisted onto them. And then, for immoderate chartless reason, would instrumentality that container into his apartment, adjacent the door, messiness astir with the ashes, and they would each travel backmost and zip fastener baggies with nary tags," said Mantzouridis.

A pistillate whose feline was cremated done Vereb's concern said she has a Ziploc container of ashes, but there's nary crematory tag, leaving her to wonderment whose remains she really has. She called the allegations "disturbing," a sentiment echoed by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday. 

"This lawsuit is disturbing, and volition origin devastation and heartache for galore Pennsylvanians," Sunday said successful a property release. "Our pets are members of our families, and this suspect betrayed and agonized favored owners who entrusted him to supply dignified services for their beloved cats and dogs. I commend our investigative squad for a broad reappraisal of voluminous records which uncovered this long-running signifier of theft and deception."

Who are the victims? 

The authorities has launched a website that imaginable victims are encouraged to use. In summation to vets, prosecutors said Vereb besides recovered victims done walk-in and direct-pay clients of Eternity Pet Memorial. The lawyer general's bureau says it has identified victims from Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington and Westmoreland counties.  

The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office is asking imaginable victims from 2021 done 2024 to capable retired a signifier online. 

According to the office's website, the pursuing vets and businesses were impacted: Affordable Care, All About Pets, Always Compassionate, Imperial Animal Hospital, Kapr Funeral Home, Kiski Valley Animal Clinic, K-Vet, Loyalhanna Animal Hospital, Meadowlands, Plum Animal Hospital, River Valley, Dr. Mary Ann Bender, Pet Haven Pet Cemetery, Frankie's Friends, Sable Kennels, Little Creek Farm, Golden Mile Animal Clinic, Greengate Animal Clinic, Salem Animal Hospital and Monongahela Animal Hospital. 

Vereb is facing felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen spot and deceptive concern practices. He surrendered Monday day and was arraigned connected the charges earlier helium was released connected his ain recognizance. 

In:
• Pets