Funeral Home Owner Indicted Over Pre-Paid Burial Accounts

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The owner of a funeral home in Suffern accused of stealing from customers with pre-paid burial accounts has been indicted on nine felony counts.

Investigators are seeking other possible victims of the alleged pre-paid account scheme.
In addition, they're asking families who used the Scarr Funeral Home but have not yet received their loved ones' cremated remains to contact them.

"This is a case that strikes at the very core of community. Our own family, friends and neighbors have been deceived and defrauded by a businessperson as we plan for our future funeral expenses," Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh, II said in announcing the grand jury indictments. "Contrary to recent media outlet reports, this office will not stand idly by and let residents of our County be victim of fraud and let the perpetrator off with a slap of the wrist! Make no mistake about it, my team, led by Supervising Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic, and the Ramapo Police Department have been working very hard to track down any victims out there and build a solid case against Mr. Scarr. My heartfelt sympathy to those who fell victim to this egregious crime."

Leonard Scarr of Warwick was indicted on 9 criminal counts stemming from an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and the Ramapo Police Department.

Scarr, 53, is the owner of Scarr Funeral Home in Suffern. He was arrested in August after a long investigation.

Prosecutors alleged that between July 11 and Oct. 11, 2019, Scarr forged death certificates for three clients who had set up pre-paid burial escrow accounts.

As trustee, Scarr could only receive an account’s funds upon the death of the account holder.

He presented the forged death certificates to representatives of the bank where the burial escrow accounts were held and withdrew the accounts’ funds, each of which exceeded $6,000, prosecutors alleged.

The indictment consisted of Grand Larceny in the 3rd (three counts), Forgery in the 2nd (three counts), Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd (three counts).

Any possible victims should reach out to the Rockland County District Attorney’s Investigators at 845-731-4100 or the Ramapo Police Department at 845-357-2400 or submit an anonymous tip by downloading the RocklandCO DA Tip 411 app (available in the APP store or Google Play). You can also text the keyword ROCKLANDCODA to 847411, type in your tip information and hit send.