Pet owners were given fake ashes in crematorium scam, authorities say. What you should know about end-of-life pet care

According to the broadcaster, citing court documents, nearly $13,000 was allegedly taken from victims through the couple’s unlicensed pet crematorium business. The Baltimore County State’s Attorney Office says there were at least 51 victims.

“Every single one of them has remains or a box that they thought were their pets’ remains,” Adam Lippe of the Baltimore County State’s Attorney Office told CBS News Baltimore.

Animals 'treated like trash'

Authorities began investigating the accused couple’s business in April 2025 after complaints of animal remains being improperly disposed of on the side of a road. Investigators say they also found the remains of 38 animals in the back of a hearse on property owned by Rodney Ward, the broadcaster reports.

Meanwhile, customers of the business believed their pets had been cremated and their remains returned to them. But according to CBS News Baltimore, Rhys Williams, a forensic scientist, tested samples from pet owners and found that wasn’t the case.

“We did not find animal remains,” he told the broadcaster, adding that most of it was “building materials” like concrete powder. Other owners described seeing what looked like sand and pieces of wire.

One day after Rodney Ward pleaded guilty, pet owners testified at the Maryland House of Delegates in support of a bill that would require pet cremation businesses to register with the state, keep detailed records and provide pet owners with appropriate documentation and identification information for the animal, reports CBS News Baltimore (2). The legislation would also require animal remains to be stored in a dignified manner.

Joy Schoonover was among the speakers and told lawmakers her cat was one of those found by investigators in the hearse.

“No other pet owner should have to learn from a police search that their beloved companion was treated like trash,” she said.