A Jacksonville funeral home director, Elliot Graham, has been accused of improperly handling the remains of clients and has been apprehended in Orange County. He is facing multiple charges, including one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of improper preservation of a human body.
The accusations against Graham include stealing money, doling out fake remains, and abandoning his funeral home. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) secured an arrest warrant for Graham, who is at the center of a state investigation.
Several families have raised concerns about the handling of their loved ones’ remains by the funeral home. The case has drawn significant attention and is an ongoing legal matter. A warrant was issued for his arrest earlier this week.
“It was a horrible experience. And I feel like no grieving family should have to go through that. During one of their most vulnerable times,” Takenya Sutton said.
On Thursday, Ola Mae Brown Jackson’s family spoke with reporters just 24 hours after state investigators told them her body was found. Jackson passed away after a battle with cancer in September 2023. Her family remembered her as a loving mother, aunt, and wife. They used Marion Graham Mortuaries for the wake and cremation.
Months went by, and the family said they still had not received her remains. Her husband decided to go down to the funeral home off Gandy Street on Jan. 14 to confront the funeral director, Graham. He said Graham made him wait outside for 45 minutes before bringing out what he claimed were Jackson’s remains. Then they decided to file a complaint.
“We never imagined this,” Paula Wright, Jackson’s sister-in-law, said.
Takenya Sutton and Danielle Streater’s family also used Marion Graham Mortuaries for their cousin’s funeral. They said it turned out to be a horrible experience because their cousin’s body was not embalmed correctly.
“We were barely able to have a wake. The family viewed the body briefly. From there, we had to close it off for the public because the smell was horrible,” Streater explained.
After receiving a complaint alleging the mishandling of the remains, the state agency that oversees funerals and cemeteries acted to secure the premises and take care of the bodies remaining there.
