Pittsburgh funeral director charged with swindling pet owners, dumping pets' remains in landfill

The proprietor of a Pittsburgh ceremonial location was arrested Monday aft allegedly stealing much than $650,000 from customers who paid for favored burial and cremation services, throwing their animals successful a landfill and giving them the ashes of other, chartless animals.

Patrick Roy Vereb, proprietor of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial, is charged with aggregate felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen spot and deceptive concern practices, according to a quality merchandise from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.

Vereb, 70, surrendered Monday day and was arraigned connected the charges. He was released connected his ain recognizance.

Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial successful Pittsburgh (Google Maps)

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Nearly a twelve veterinary practices and businesses confirmed that Vereb collected astatine slightest $657,517 successful fees from favored owners betwixt 2021 and 2024 who were promised a backstage cremation for their pet, but they did not person the ashes of their pet, according to the release.

Authorities identified much than 6,500 victims from Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington and Westmoreland counties. 

"This lawsuit is disturbing, and volition origin devastation and heartache for galore Pennsylvanians," Sunday wrote successful a statement. "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."

More than 6,000 favored parents were affected by the alleged scheme, according to authorities. (iStock)

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Eternity Pet Memorial received the pets straight from consumers oregon done country veterinarians, according to the lawyer general's office.

A fig of section carnal hospitals, carnal rescues and ceremonial homes took to societal media aft the announcement to stock however they were affected.

"To each household devastated by Eternity Pet Memorial – We wanted to fto you cognize that we are navigating this catastrophe with you, arsenic respective of our rescue dogs had gone [t]here," Helping Hearts & Healing Tails Animal Rescue wrote successful a Facebook post. 

Pet owners were allegedly fixed the ashes of different carnal aft paying for services. (iStock)

The structure went connected to picture the alleged transgression arsenic "not conscionable a mistake" but a betrayal of trust.

"You are not alone," structure officials wrote. "We spot your pain. We stock your anger. We grant your love. And together, we volition combat for the truth. For dignity. For justice. … Love ne'er ends. And neither volition our request for accountability."

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Paul G. Fink Funeral Home Inc. and East Suburban Animal Hospital assured customers they were not affected.

"We are already receiving galore calls/texts asking if we utilized Eternity Pet Memorial for our cremation services pursuing a caller quality story," the carnal infirmary wrote successful the post. "We privation to guarantee you that we bash not usage their services and are truthful saddened to larn that idiosyncratic could instrumentality vantage of favored owners successful this way. Our hearts spell retired to each of those affected by this abhorrent act."

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The carnal infirmary noted it had a fewer clients who privately utilized Vereb's services.

Considering that thousands of consumers person been harmed, the lawyer general's bureau launched a website to prosecute with victims and assistance acrophobic residents find retired if they were affected.

Victims tin supply their interaction information, stock unfortunate interaction statements and person updates connected the transgression case.