JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Northside funeral home 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 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 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 remains, and abandoned a funeral home. We will aggressively pursue this former funeral home director and hold him accountable to the families he’s wronged.”
The funeral home has operated in Jacksonville since 1984. Patronis says the mortuary grounds are now being treated as an official crime scene.
News4JAX has uncovered three separate lawsuits against the mortuary.
The first complaint from Ford Motor Credit Company said that Marion Graham Mortuaries defaulted due to non-payment on a 2013 Lincoln Navigator. The remaining balance was nearly $8,200.
Another complaint was from the Batesville Casket Company. It said that the company entered a verbal agreement to sell the funeral home products in exchange for payment after invoicing. The company alleges the funeral home owes them $18,751.41 for goods sold and delivered from the company to the mortuary from 2019 to 2021.
The lawsuit also said as of November 2022, the funeral home owed more than $2,200 in interest.
The last complaint comes from the Restlawn Cemeteries and Cremation Gardens, which states on or about Nov. 11, 2020, both parties entered into a purchase agreement for a burial plot. Restlawn said they were supposed to receive $2,595 which the business said the mortuary refuses to pay.
The business is asking for the money, plus interest, attorney’s fees and court costs.
News4JAX also learned the funeral board held several meetings in January and February 2022 to discuss a complaint against the mortuary for demonstrating negligence or incompetency and failing to timely honor a contract.
The board voted in February 2022 to fine Graham $4,000 and put his license on probation for one year.
Graham is facing multiple charges, including one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of improper preservation of a human body.
The Department of Financial Services explained help is available for families impacted. Individuals who obtained Pre-Need Funeral contracts through Marion Graham Mortuaries are encouraged to file a claim with the Pre-need Funeral Contract Consumer Protection Trust Fund (CPTF). The CPTF is a trust created under section 497.456, Florida Statutes, to assist consumers who have paid for preneed contracts when the preneed seller subsequently will not or cannot fulfill the preneed contract. In certain circumstances, a claim may be filed with the CPTF for reimbursement of funds required to fulfill the prepaid preneed contract.
For more information on the CPTF and how to file a claim, please visit https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/funeralcemetery/consumer-help/preneed-claims.