Man Duped Woman, 74, with Sale of Fake Burial Plot: Deputies

HUDSON, FL — An elderly New Port Richey woman hoping to address end-of-life issues found herself the victim of a crime instead when a man sold her a fake funeral plot for more than $2,000, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Ruth Bachtalowsky discovered the dupe in November, the sheriff's office wrote in an email to media. It seems she changed her mind about the March purchase and returned to Grace Memorial Gardens, 16931 U.S. 19 in Hudson, hoping to get a refund of the $2,410 she spent on the plot.

It was then Bachtalowsky learned she had been scammed, the sheriff's office said. Instead of selling her the plot, the sheriff’s office said Michael J. Ritz allegedly “pocketed the cash by putting his own name on the check.”

Ritz did work for the funeral home at the time, the sheriff’s office noted. That employment ended, however, after officials at Grace Memorial Gardens learned of the sale. They did reimburse Bachtalowsky for her loss.

Ritz’s arrest on grand theft charges was announced Thursday, Dec. 1. The sheriff’s office said after Ritz was fired, he managed to land a job at another funeral home in Tampa. It is unclear if there are other victims.

No further information is available at this time.

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