PITTSBURGH, PA — A former Pittsburgh funeral home owner who took money to cremate deceased pets but instead dumped bodies in local landfills and returned unknown animal ashes to owners is expected to plead guilty to criminal charges.
Patrick Vereb, the owner of Vereb Funeral Homes and Eternity Pet Memorial in Hazelwood and Harrison, is expected to enter the plea next week, WPXI-TV reported.
Vereb, 72, has been charged with felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and deceptive business practices
Vereb is accused of stealing more than $650,000 from customers who paid for cremations, burials, returns of ashes and other animal-related services. The alleged offenses occurred between 2021 and 2024.
According to Pennsylania Attorney General Dave Sunday, an extensive investigation identified more than 6,500 victims from Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, and Westmoreland counties in Western Pennsylvania.
"This case is disturbing, and will cause devastation and heartache for many Pennsylvanians," Sunday said when the charges first were announced. "Our pets are members of our families, and this defendant betrayed and agonized pet owners who entrusted him to provide dignified services for their beloved cats and dogs."
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