Decaying Pet Bodies Found In Hearse, Crematorium Under Investigation: Reports

CATONSVILLE, MD — Marylanders allege that a Catonsville pet cremation service never cremated their animals and instead gave them fake ashes, multiple reports said after dozens of decomposing bodies were found in a hearse and on the side of a road.

The Baltimore County Police Department announced Thursday that it is "investigating a theft by deception involving the business Loving Care Pet Cremations." Officers said they were "notified of an improper disposal complaint at the beginning of April regarding animal remains."

WBAL-TV reported that the investigation gained steam after the bodies of five dogs, a cat and a bunny were found alongside a road.

WMAR said authorities then searched the crematorium owner's home and found 38 decaying animal bodies in a hearse on the property.

"Some of them were a soupy mess, not really sure. There were various stages of decomposition. There was liquid leaking out of the hearse, some of them were new, some of them were old. There were a lot of dead flies there, that tells us something as well," Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney Adam Lippe told WMAR.

Eric and Gail Cook of Glen Burnie contacted Loving Care Pet Cremations on March 23 after the death of their 13-year-old black German shepherd named Raven, The Baltimore Banner reported. The Banner said the couple later learned that Raven was found dumped on the side of a road, still wrapped in a blanket with her toys.

"We’re just speechless," Gail Cook told The Banner. "How could someone do something like this?"

The Banner said the supposed ashes that pet owners received were really sand, flour or concrete.

Juanita Logan told WJZ she received a bag of sand after her 14-year-old cat Tygga Man Logan died in October 2024.

"I feel like I failed him because they just tossed him away," Logan told WJZ. "I just pray that through all the remains that they found in that hearse, that they will find him and whatever is left of him, I can get the real ashes."

The Baltimore Sun said Charm City Pet Crematory and a forensic anthropologist from Loyola University Maryland are testing the remains.

Charm City Pet Crematory will host a candlelight vigil for affected families on May 10 in Baltimore.

Loving Care Pet Cremations was unlicensed and unregistered with the state Department of Assessments and Taxation, The Sun said, noting that the business supposedly operated out of 800 Ingleside Ave. WJZ, however, found no sign of the business when it visited that address.

The owner denied any wrongdoing and told WBAL-TV that he outsources the cremations.

No charges have been filed. Police are still investigating alongside the state's attorney's office.

Detectives asked anybody with information to call 410-887-5163.