PITTSBURGH — A former Pittsburgh-area funeral home director accused of deceiving more than 6,500 pet owners who paid for burial services but instead received ashes belonging to other animals plans to plead guilty.
Patrick Vereb, 70, was in court Thursday for jury selection, but Channel 11 has learned that he plans to plead guilty, which will spare him a trial.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office said there is no agreement on what Vereb’s sentence would be, so it’s not considered a plea deal.
Vereb, former owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial, was charged in April 2024 with improper disposal of thousands of dogs and cats for which owners paid for cremations, burials, returns of ashes and other services between 2021 and 2024.
Following an extensive investigation, the Attorney General’s Office identified more than 6,500 victims from Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Last year, families across Western Pennsylvania turned to 11 Investigates with questions about their loved ones’ remains after new allegations against funeral director Patrick Vereb. Two former Vereb Funeral Home employees allege their former boss mishandled human remains at his Hazelwood funeral home. They both tell 11 Investigates they sat down for hours of interviews with a state investigator. Vereb has never been charged in relation to these allegations.
Previous coverage:
- Pittsburgh funeral home owner accused of dumping pets in landfill instead of cremating them
- Attorney comments on civil case filed against funeral director accused of mishandling pet remains
- 11 Investigates Exclusive: AG responds to criticism over handling of Patrick Vereb investigation
- Family questions what’s in their loved one’s urn following investigation into local funeral director
- 11 Investigates: Former funeral home employee alleges director mishandled human remains
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