Wednesday, February 13 2013, 11:45 AM EST

Former Funeral Director Indicted on Theft, Forgery Charges

DAYTON -- A former local funeral director is now a wanted woman. Scherrie McLin has been indicted on 17 felony counts, including forgery and theft from an elderly or disabled adult.

According to Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr., McLin offered a pre-paid funeral service to people in the community, the problem is when the families came to bury their loved one, she refused to pay up.

"This defendant accepted and illegally converted over $200,000 for pre-needs contracts, from over 50 persons or families," Heck said.

McLin owned a funeral home off Gettysburg Avenue in Dayton.

Last year, the state permanently revoked her license and the funeral home's license after an investigation showed she broke laws and regulations.

In September, officers pulled 56 boxes of cremains from a home she owned on Philadelphia.

Today, she's facing 17 felony counts.

"I feel for those people that it happened to and if it's possible that they can get some sort of restitution then I hope that they can get it," said Palmer Boyd, a Dayton resident.

But the money is gone, and according to investigators, no where to be found.

This all stemmed from a complaint from family members who pre-paid for a loved one's funeral, and when they came to the funeral home, McLin refused the service.

"Most of the victims were elderly or disabled, perhaps worst of all we've identified 12 victims who have already died, and did not receive the funeral that they arranged and personally paid for," Heck said.

But for those victim's families, this indictment could help bring some relief and some justice for their loved ones.

"Cherish the memories that you had with them. One thing that we cannot do, we cannot live life in a rear-view mirror," said Boyd.

McLin is also facing charges for withholding money from an employee's check for child support, and never paying the proper people.

Nearly, $20,000 investigators say she also pocketed.

According to the prosecutor, McLin is not at this time facing any charges stemming from the cremains found in the home.

Hecks said that if McLin is convicted, she faces a possible sentence of 39 1/2 years in prison and fines of up to $105,000.

"We have filed a warrant for her arrest on these charges and are asking that bond be set at $250,000 cash," Heck said.

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