Darrine Timpson, of Catonsville, Maryland, had just said goodbye to his French bulldog Jada. He hired Loving Care Pet Funeral Services to cremate her, and the next day he had in his hands a box containing what he believed were her remains.
Thirty minutes later, Baltimore Animal Control called him: Jada’s body had been found abandoned in the middle of the road, alongside seven other dead dogs. The business owner, Rodney Ward, claimed that a new employee was supposed to take her to a crematorium in Hyattsville, but never did. “I was dumbfounded. There are no words to describe the emotions I felt at that moment”, Darrine said.
The investigation revealed something worse: dozens of families had received sand or concrete instead of real ashes. In February 2026, Ward pleaded guilty to theft and destruction of property after charging 13.000 dollars to more than 50 victims who only wanted to say goodbye to their animals.