Mortuary proprietor in Pittsburgh under allegations for discarding animal remains in a landfill.
In the heart of Pittsburgh, the proprietor of a pet funeral home has landed in hot water, inducing shock and anger among thousands of heartbroken pet owners. According to the authorities, Patrick Roy Vereb, the owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial, has been accused of deceiving his customers, taking advantage of their grief in the most egregious manner possible.
Vereb has been slapped with charges of unscrupulous business practices and theft by deception, following his failure to provide the promised services and returning the rightful ashes to the pet owners. Pennsylvania state prosecutors voiced their indignation on Monday, stating that Vereb's "repulsive handling of thousands of pets" is a grave violation of trust and compassion[1].
With an air of urgency, Attorney General Dave Sunday Jr. set up a portal on the state Attorney General's Office website urging potential victims to come forward, emphasizing the urgent need for the community and the numerous victims to know that between 2021 and 2024, Mr. Vereb continually and intentionally breached his duty of care, duping customers seeking a solemn, dignified farewell for their loyal, departed pets[1].
Authorities have pinpointed more than 6,500 victims in this odious ordeal. Rather than affording their deceased pets the due respect of proper cremations, burials, and the return of ashes, Vereb is said to have sent thousands of animals to the dumpster for disposal[1]. Staggeringly, thousands of consumers paid for and expected the ashes of their beloved pets, only to receive the remains of other, unknown animals.
The seeds of suspicion were sown among Vereb's own employees in late July when it appeared that the business was handling far more pet carcasses than they were cremating[2]. Finally confronted by investigators, Vereb confesses that he misled customers, handing out fake ashes to make grieving pet owners feel at least somewhat comforted for the day[2]. Unbelievably, Vereb even admitted to using leftover ashes from other pets to present as those of pets not cremated.
Furthermore, clients who opted for a "common" grave for their pet were frequently thrown in the trash, according to the criminal complaint[2]. When questioned about the "common" grave, Vereb admitted that he hadn't used these pet cemeteries in a while and instead opted for discarding the pets in a landfill[2].
Vereb faces no bail conditions and has been granted freedom until his next scheduled court appearance on May 9[1]. But alas, attempts to elicit a comment from Vereb have borne no fruit, as calls made to his publicly listed landlines and email addresses have gone unanswered[1]. A mysterious voice, muttering a simple "meow," hung up upon answering one of the phone numbers connected to Vereb.
This tragic debacle serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some individuals will go to exploit the vulnerability and grief of others, leaving us to question whether such heartless actions will ever be met with swift and decisive justice.
Sources:
- Authorities: Pittsburgh-area pet mortuary owner victimized thousands of grieving customers, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
- Pet mortuary owner in Pennsylvania accused of mishandling deceased pets' remains with ashes from other animals or dumping them in landfills, CBS News
- Pennsylvania pet mortuary owner accused of deceiving grieving customers, ABC News
Prosecutors in Pennsylvania have agreed to pursue charges against Patrick Roy Vereb, the owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial, for his role in a crime-and-justice scandal involving the mishandling of thousands of pet remains. General-news outlets have reported that Vereb allegedly sent the remains of deceased pets to cremations, but instead of honoring their final wishes, he discarded them in landfills or used the remains of other animals to pass off as their own. This distressing incident serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and justice in cases of pet crime, ensuring that pet owners receive the respect and dignity their beloved companions deserve.
