Complaints climb in police probe of ex-owner of Miami Twp. monument business

The complaints against a former co-owner of a Miami Twp. business has increased to about 60, police said. The company is not a target of the probe, police said. NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF

The complaints against a former co-owner of a Miami Twp. business has increased to about 60, police said. The company is not a target of the probe, police said. NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF

Police said today said the number of complaints they’ve fielded is growing from customers of a Miami Twp. monument business saying they paid for headstones they did not receive.

About 60 people have now told police they were victims of the former co-owner of American Memorial Monuments.

EARLIER: Gravestone complaints prompt police fraud investigation

Police last week said they had received about 30 to 40 complaints from customers of the Kingsridge Drive business who have said they never received headstones they paid for in advance and mostly with cash, police said.

Miami Twp. police detective Danielle Schweickart would not identify the former co-owner — who has not been charged — by name, but said he left the company in recent months after several years as a partner.

RELATED: ‘It can happen to anyone’: Scam artists prey on area residents

The company, she said, is not a target of the investigation and is “cooperating fully.”

Customers filing complaints “are from all over the Montgomery County … all over the surrounding Miami Valley area“ are the investigation is checking into transactions dating back two years, she said.

Customers have told police “that they pre-ordered and paid for memorials and monuments for their loved ones’ funeral services and then never received the memorials or monuments,” Schweickart said.

POPULAR: Local student charged with seeking to hurt superintendent

About the Author