Hightstown Funeral Director Pleads Guilty to Stealing $750K from 96-Year-Old Relative

Hightstown funeral director Joseph Barlow pleaded guilty to stealing $750,000 from a 96-year old female relative of his in front of Mercer County Superior Court on Thursday.

Barlow, of Cranbury, pleaded guilty to a second-degree charge of misappropriation of entrusted funds, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr.

In March 2010, Barlow became power of attorney for the 96-year-old victim and within two years he wrote and endorsed multiple checks, liquidated various assets, and closed out her life insurance policy, Bocchini said. The total amount of stolen funds, approximately $750,000, was used in Barlow’s funeral home business Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home.

According to the terms of the plea agreement, Barlow will receive a five-year suspended sentence with the stipulation that he serves 10 days in jail. All of the stolen money must be repaid by Barlow beginning with a $50,000 payment at the time of sentencing. Then, Barlow will pay $70,000 per year to the victim until she is fully reimbursed. The victim will also receive a 20 percent interest from Barlow and Zimmer Funeral Home.

Detective Michele Russel of the prosecutor’s Economic Crime Unit and Detective Benjamin Miller of the Hightstown Police Department were credited in leading the investigation which led to this guilty plea. Barlow’s sentencing is scheduled for July 19.