Funeral Home Owner Allegedly Threw Over 6,500 Pets In Landfill, Returned ‘Unknown’ Ashes To Owners

A Pennsylvania funeral home owner is facing charges for allegedly bilking thousands of customers who paid for pet burial and cremation services, instead throwing their pets into a landfill, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Monday.

Patrick Vereb, the 70-year-old owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial in Pittsburgh, is charged with felony counts of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and deceptive business practices connected to the improper disposal of thousands of dogs and cats between 2021 and 2024.

An investigation by the Office of Attorney General, assisted by nearly a dozen veterinary practices and businesses, found that Vereb collected at least $657,517 in fees from pet owners who were promised private cremation and the return of ashes, but did not receive the actual ashes of their pet.

Instead, Vereb allegedly disposed of the animals in a landfill and returned the ashes of unknown animals to customers.

Eternity Pet Memorial received the pets directly from owners or through area veterinarians. In total, the investigation identified more than 6,500 victims from Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. Authorities say there could be even more victims, and the AG’s office set up a web page for owners who believe they may be victims to report their case.

”This case is disturbing, and will cause devastation and heartache for many Pennsylvanians,” Sunday said in a statement. “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. I commend our investigative team for a comprehensive review of voluminous records which uncovered this long-running pattern of theft and deception.”

Vereb surrendered Monday afternoon, was arraigned, and was released on his own recognizance.