A Northside funeral director is wanted on multiple charges after the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) opened an investigation following complaints over the “mishandling of cremated remains” and allegedly “abandoning” the business.
Elliot Graham is the funeral director at Marion Graham Mortuaries on Gandy Street in the Lake Forest Hills neighborhood.
According to Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, Graham is accused of stealing money, giving out fake remains and abandoning the mortuary.
The warrant was issued Wednesday for Graham’s arrest, and DFS secured a search warrant to search the mortuary.
Officials said as the investigation continues, other people accused of being involved will be held accountable through license revocations and possible additional criminal charges.
Patronis, whose agency oversees funeral homes and mortuaries, provided a statement about the situation:
“We are going to do everything possible to put this guy behind bars for a very long time. Nothing is more important than family – and as our loved ones pass away – it’s always a difficult situation, and families are entrusting funeral directors to treat their loved ones with respect and dignity. These allegations indicate that this alleged criminal did the opposite. It appears he stole people’s money, doled out fake cremains, and abandoned a funeral home. We will aggressively pursue this former funeral home director and hold him accountable to the families he’s wronged.”
Graham is facing multiple charges, including one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of improper preservation of a human body.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.