Judge Sentences Pet Crematorium Owner To 20 Years In Jail For Duping Owners
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A Baltimore County judge has sentenced a Maryland man to 20 years in prison after he ran a fraudulent pet cremation service that deceived grieving animal owners.
Rodney Ward, 56, of Catonsville, was sentenced March 31 after pleading guilty in February to charges of theft and malicious destruction of property connected to his unlicensed business, Loving Care Pet Funeral and Cremation Services. According to prosecutors, Ward collected about $13,000 from customers who believed their pets were being properly cremated.
Instead of returning the ashes of the animals, Ward gave customers bags filled with gravel and other construction materials. Investigators later determined that none of the remains he provided contained actual animal ashes. A forensic anthropologist examined several samples and found they were largely made up of concrete powder and similar debris. Some samples even contained human teeth and dental implants.
Maryland business owner sentenced after returning false ashes to grieving pet owners https://t.co/tIKz4m5ASM
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Judge Keith R. Truffer handed down the sentence by assigning five years for the theft conviction and an additional 15 years for the property destruction charge. Standard sentencing guidelines suggested a term of about one year, but prosecutor Adam Lippe argued that such a penalty would not reflect the seriousness of the crimes.
Ward’s defense attorney, Clarke Agre, told the court that his client was remorseful about the situation. According to courtroom reports, several people in attendance reacted with laughter after the statement.
During the hearing, multiple victims described the emotional harm caused by Ward’s actions. Ward remained expressionless throughout more than an hour of testimony and did not turn to face the people speaking.
The judge also told Ward that he would consider reducing the sentence if Ward revealed what happened to the missing pets. Ward declined to provide any information.
One of the victims, Nikki Pickens, said no punishment could undo the damage done. She told reporters that no amount of money or sentencing could bring closure because the situation should never have occurred.
Ward’s wife, Yalanda Ward, who is also charged in the case, is scheduled to go to trial on May 6.
In response to the case, Maryland lawmakers are advancing House Bill 564. The proposed legislation would require pet cremation businesses in the state to register with authorities and maintain detailed records of their operations.
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