GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Since the end of January, WTWO has been investigating complaints from viewers regarding Austin Memorial Arts, a tombstone and monument company located in Greene County, Indiana.
When contacted at the end of January, the Greene County Clerk’s Office reported just four small claims cases were filed against Austin Memorial Arts.
As of Thursday morning, 67 civil cases have been filed with over $180K in small claims against Austin Memorial Arts and the number of allegations continues to grow.
Marcella McDonald lost her husband in October 2022.
“The next week, I went over to Austin’s Memorial, and I asked about getting a stone,” Marcella said.
Marcella noted she made a partial payment by check to Austin Memorial Arts in the amount of $2,164.00 in December of 2022 and was told she’d have the stone by Memorial Day 2023.
“About April, I went over to the Memorial Center, and he said they were having trouble getting the stones in,” Marcella said. “And then, about June, they were having trouble getting the bases in,” she added.
During the summer of 2023, Marcella said she was told the stone would be set in about two weeks. That’s when she wrote another check for her final payment of $928. A total investment of nearly $3,100.
Come September, nearly a year since her husband’s passing, Marcella said there was still no stone.
“I went over there every day,” she said. “Just to see if it was done.”
According to Marcella’s contract though, the tombstone was to be completed in the fall 2023 “or as soon thereafter as possible.”
“I hadn’t paid any attention. I said, ‘Okay, but it’ll probably be Christmas. Just joking.’”
About a month later, on December 1, 2023, Marcella saw what seemed to be a sign of hope.
“They laid the footing,” she said. “And they haven’t done anything since,” she added.
Marcella is not the only customer waiting on their Austin Memorial pieces. We spoke to several others who had filed civil suits. Things then seemed to escalate to the point that state police had gotten involved.
“The Indiana State Police (ISP) Post Bloomington’s investigation unit is conducting an active investigation into the events that have unfolded with Austin Memorial Arts,” Sgt. Kevin Getz, Indiana State Police Public Information Officer, said. This is in the very early stages of the investigation; we’re still collecting and collating victims.”
Detectives explained these investigations take time.
“Because this is going to be a financial crime investigation, typically, those are going to take some time. There’s going to be lots of legal process, and there’s going to be needing to get documents. In essence, we’re creating a paper trail, so to speak,” Getz said.
Meanwhile, Marcella does what she can to honor her late husband.
“I kept making flowers and stuff for every occasion, you know, to take over there,” Marcella said. I still have all my flowers in the basement. So, on Saturday, I did take some flowers over there. I got tired of him not having any flowers. It kind of upsets me, you know.”
Back in January, reporter Jen Thompson met with Richard King, the owner of Austin Memorial. At that time, the business still appeared to be operating.
WTWO reached back out to King for a statement but has not heard back.
As for Marcella, she has since gone to a different monument company and has been able to place flowers on the headstone they’ve already set.
ISP said if you are a victim or a client of Austin Memorial who feels something is not right, you should reach out to the Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411. Sergeant Getz also added that anyone with any information on the business that may be helpful in the investigation is also encouraged to reach out.
