Florida Cemetery Manager Accused of Selling Veterans Grave Markers

Cemetery manager accused of selling veterans' grave markers
Manager arrested after 3-month I-TEAM investigation into funeral home, cemetery
News 4 Jax
By Lynnsey Gardner - Investigative reporter
July 15, 2016

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. - The manager of First Coast Funeral Home and its sister company, Beaches Memorial Park, sold 44 pounds of scrap metal last month, including two grave markers belonging to veterans, to Beaches Recycling Center, investigators said.

Nader "John" Rayan was arrested Thursday on 16 charges, most felonies resulting from taking money for services that were never provided.

According to the state attorney's office, Rayan is charged with 11 counts of grand theft, one count of improper storage of a body, one count of fraud, one count of dealing with stolen property, one petty theft and one count of false verification of ownership to a recycler.

The News4Jax I-TEAM, which has been investigating the funeral home and cemetery since May, spoke Friday to two employees at the Beaches Recycling Center.

Michelle Perry and Dorothy Norton said Rayan walked in, acting strangely, and was selling two markers for veterans, plus several 2015 marker plates and a vase.
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