Mon Mar 31 04:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Former Jacksonville Funeral Home Director Sentenced to Probation for Mishandling Remains and Misusing Funds
**JACKSONVILLE, FL** – Elliott Graham, a former Jacksonville funeral home director, was sentenced to five years of probation Wednesday for abandoning his mortuary with decomposing bodies inside and misusing thousands of dollars in pre-need funeral funds. Graham pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft in separate cases stemming from his operation of the Marion Graham Mortuary in the Lake Forest Hills neighborhood.
Graham’s crimes included misappropriating approximately $90,000 in pre-need funeral arrangement funds, providing families with incorrect ashes, and abandoning the mortuary in October 2023, leaving three decomposing bodies inside without refrigeration or power. State investigators discovered the bodies in January 2024. He was also accused of submitting false insurance claims and stealing from a foundation that aids grieving families.
The case prompted swift legislative action. In response to the egregious neglect, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill last May granting the state increased authority to investigate derelict funeral homes, allowing immediate access in emergencies. The new law also makes mishandling remains a felony.
As part of his sentence, Graham must pay $167,000 in restitution. Authorities confirmed that individual victims have already received compensation. Graham’s license to operate as a funeral director, along with the mortuary’s license, has been permanently revoked. He had spent over a year in Duval County jail prior to sentencing. The State Attorney’s Office stated that victims and law enforcement supported the sentencing outcome.
First Piper 