Attorney General to Conduct Criminal Investigation
Into Activities of Atlantic County Funeral Director

NEWARK — The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs is referring its investigation into the activities of Dorothy Jewell, the Atlantic City funeral director whose license was revoked by the State Board of Mortuary Science on Wednesday over allegations that she misappropriated pre–need funds, to the Office of the Attorney General for potential criminal prosecution, Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos has announced.

This week, Jewell came under intense scrutiny by the Atlantic City Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office after decomposing human remains were found at her funeral home. Consumer Affairs, which oversees the Board of Mortuary Science, has been closely monitoring the local and county investigations.

"While local and county law enforcement are aggressively investigating Mrs. Jewell's activities, I want emphasize that there is a terribly important statewide issue regarding the improper handling of pre–need funds and of human remains," Attorney General David Samson said. "In addition to the criminal investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, the Atlantic City Police Department and the Division of Criminal Justice, I am directing Consumer Affairs' Enforcement Bureau to work with the Board of Mortuary Science to review inspection procedures to prevent this type of tragic situation from happening to any other New Jersey family. We will be aggressively moving forward to prevent such situations and to correct them, if they are found to be occurring, by appropriate civil and criminal penalties."

"State law requires funeral directors who take possession of human remains to dispose of those remains in accordance with State law and the instructions of the person who arranged for the burial or cremation of the decedent," Erdos said. "Obviously, failing to tend to decomposing human remains does not comport with State law."

The Office of the Attorney General will also look at the complaints relating to Jewell's handling of pre-need accounts.

"Today, it is not unusual for people to plan their own funerals or that of loved ones prior to their -more- deaths," Erdos said. "These plans are referred to as pre-need funeral arrangements which allow people to pay for their funerals in advance."

Under New Jersey law, pre-need funds may be placed in either a trust account or a funeral insurance policy, either of which must be in the consumer's name and established within 30 days of receipt.

The State's investigation into Jewell's activities involved a review of her financial records and revealed that she misappropriated consumer's pre–need funds by commingling them with the funeral homes' general operating account, from which creditors regularly withdrew payments that Jewell owed to them. As a result, The Board of Mortuary Science revoked Jewell's license and the registration of the Jewell Funeral Home, after finding she stole approximately $8,600 of pre–need funds belonging to six consumers. Since revoking her license, more complaints have surfaced concerning Jewell's handling of pre–need funds. Those complaints will now be referred to the Office of the Attorney General which will determine whether State criminal charges are warranted.

"There is no more vulnerable time in the life of a family than when it is dealing with the death of a loved one," Attorney General Samson said. "It is inconceivable and completely unacceptable to permit someone to take advantage of families at such a time by failing to handle their funds appropriately or failing to treat the remains of their loved ones in a dignified manner. Such activities are abhorrent and intolerable. Anyone who thinks he or she will get away with this behavior should understand we will pursue the toughest penalties available under law."

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