A nameless urn, a zippered bag with no label, and the unsettling fear that the ashes of a beloved pet might not be real.
That is the nightmare now unfolding in Pennsylvania, where Patrick Vereb stands accused of defrauding thousands of pet owners by falsely claiming to perform cremations that, in many cases, investigators say, may never have happened.
According to the state Attorney General’s Office, Vereb, 70, the owner of Vereb Funeral Home and Eternity Pet Memorial, allegedly collected more than $650,000 from over 6,500 customers between 2021 and 2024, promising funeral and private cremation services for dogs, cats, and other companion animals. Authorities believe the remains were often discarded in landfills, while ashes of unknown origin were returned to grieving clients.
Testimony from former employees and customers has bolstered the investigation. One intern at the facility reported that animal bodies were stuffed into trash bags and stacked atop freezers, and described a chaotic, disorganized tracking system for cremations. She told investigators that Vereb would retrieve ashes indiscriminately from the crematory, take them to his private apartment, tamper with the contents, and return them unlabeled to clients.
One woman who entrusted Eternity Pet Memorial with her cat’s cremation said she received a zippered container without any crematory identification. She called the experience deeply disturbing—a sentiment echoed by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who said the case has caused widespread emotional devastation among families who considered their pets full members of the household.
Vereb allegedly partnered with about 20 veterinary clinics and prominent animal care facilities across the state, in addition to accepting clients directly, authorities said. Verified victims have so far been identified in Allegheny, Armstrong, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.
To support the investigation, officials have launched a dedicated website where citizens can report suspicious cases or potential violations.
Vereb faces multiple charges, including theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and unfair business practices. He turned himself in, was arraigned, and later released on his own recognizance.
Behind the promise of an “eternal memory,” as the company’s name suggested, investigators say they have uncovered one of the most callous and emotionally devastating frauds seen in recent years.
