PARMA, Ohio — A woman who owns a casket business in Parma has been charged for allegedly taking money from an elderly customer and then failing to deliver a casket.
Karen A. Hayes, 58, of Brunswick Hills, has been charged with felony theft from an elderly person, according to court records.
Hayes is the owner of The Casket Store on Ridge Road. She was charged after she allegedly took an order from an 84-year-old woman in 2017 for a $4,000 headstone but didn’t fulfill it, according to Parma police. The victim tried to contact Hayes several times, but the issue was never resolved and the woman filed a police report.
Since that time, authorities say they have talked with several other victims who say they "gave Hayes money for headstones, caskets and urns, but never received the items or a refund," a Parma police news release states. In two instances, authorities say victims gave the ashes of family members to Hayes to place in urns but didn't receive the urns or ashes back.
Police are asking anyone who has any information about the case or may be a victim to contact them at 440-887-7332.
Hayes is scheduled to appear in Parma Municipal Court May 8 at 10:30 a.m.
