Patrick Vereb, accused of stealing over $650,000 and improperly disposing of thousands of pets, is set to plead guilty to all charges.
PITTSBURGH —
Patrick Vereb, a Pittsburgh funeral home owner accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from pet owners who paid for burial and cremation services, pleaded guilty to all charges.
Initially, Vereb was to be released on electronic home monitoring prior to his sentencing. That bail was made on the condition he remained in Allegheny County.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Marcie Cipriani reports that’s when Vereb told his attorney he no longer lived in Allegheny County.
The judge revoked his bail and sent him to Allegheny County Jail while he awaits sentencing.
“Our pets deserved dignity.”
Victims of Vereb gathered outside the Allegheny County Courthouse ahead of his plea hearing, held signs that read, “Our pets deserved dignity.” Their grief had turned to anger, and they are demanding accountability.
“The dog that I’ve rescued and tried to give the best life I could to is laying in a dump somewhere because of a person that decided that money was more important than people,” said Scott Phares, one of more than 6,000 victims of Vereb.
Phares said he now has an urn sitting at home with his other pets’ remains, but he has no idea whose ashes are inside. He explained that he trusted Vereb to handle the burial and cremation of his dog, Puddles, only to later learn of the alleged betrayal.
Accusations against Vereb
Vereb is accused of stealing more than $650,000 from pet owners who relied on him for pet burial and cremation services. Officials allege that between 2021 and 2024, Vereb improperly disposed of thousands of dogs and cats, often dumping them in a landfill, while providing customers with ashes that were not their pets.
An investigation revealed that Vereb gave grieving pet owners signed cremation certificates and ashes, leading them to believe they were receiving their pets’ remains.
Cali Elliott, another victim, shared her experience. “When I drove them there, you know, I thought I was doing right by them. I thought I was, you know, they’re past on their dead, they’re bodies at that point, but it’s still personal. So, to find out what happened was a deep betrayal,” she said.
The attorney general’s office is requesting that Vereb pay restitution as part of his final sentence.