Owner Of Pet Cremation Business That Abruptly Closed Arrested In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — The owner of a pet cremation business that abruptly closed earlier this year in northern San Diego County has been arrested, officials announced.

Christopher Settle, 39, was arrested Tuesday at his home in Temecula after a North County Superior Court judge issued a grand theft arrest warrant that same day, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.

Settle is the owner of Angel Paws Pet Cremation in San Marcos, a business that is under criminal investigation.

The business closed without warning over the summer, leaving many grieving pet owners seeking their pets' remains, CBS8 reported. Sheriff's detectives served a search warrant at the business in October and assisted in retrieving the deceased animals from the facility.

• Also see: Detectives Raid Closed Pet Cremation Business In North County

The station spoke by text with the owner at the time, who said he was being evicted but hoped to return all pets' remains to their owners. Following the eviction, the landlord discovered nearly 4,000 pounds of decomposed animal remains during a cleanup in November, CBS8 reported.

The San Diego Sheriff’s Office said that Settle waived extradition and was transported to San Diego County, where he was booked at the Vista Detention Facility on the outstanding warrant.

Anyone with information about Angel Paws Pet Cremation or believes they may have been a victim of a financial crime, should contact the San Marcos Sheriff's Station at 760-510-5200.