WV Grave Robber Ripped Off Grieving Families

⏱ 3 min read

Jeffrey Phares, 65, of Fayetteville, West Virginia, is a cold-hearted thief who preyed on families at their most vulnerable. The cemetery owner pleaded guilty to a massive fraud scheme where he pocketed cash from grieving relatives for grave markers, then failed to deliver. The scam unfolded across four cemeteries in North Central West Virginia over an unspecified period, leaving a trail of broken promises and an estimated $250,000 to $550,000 in losses.

Phares owned and operated Greenlawn Memorial Park (New Martinsville), Elkins Memorial Gardens (Elkins), Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery (Clarksburg), and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens (Jane Lew). Victims paid him for monuments, design approvals were secured, and then…nothing. Repeated inquiries were met with lies about shipping delays and production problems – stalling tactics to cover up a blatant theft.

The FBI, alongside the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office and the Wetzel County Prosecutor’s Office, finally exposed Phares’ scheme. He’s now facing the music, agreeing to full restitution – meaning investigators will meticulously audit his finances to determine the exact amount owed to his victims. While the money will be returned, it won’t mend the pain he inflicted.

Phares could face up to 20 years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case, with U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone overseeing the proceedings. This wasn’t just about money; it was a predatory betrayal of trust aimed at people already dealing with devastating loss.