KINGSLAND, Ga. — Pet owners in Kingsland said they are heartbroken after police said the operators of a local cremation business are accused of deceiving grieving families.

Investigators have spent two days digging in the backyard of Compassionate Care Pet Cremation on East Central Avenue. Police were digging up multiple black bags from the ground as part of their ongoing investigation.

Amanda and Nader Rayan were arrested on August 26. According to Kingsland Police Department reports, the couple is accused of taking money from customers for cremations but never following through. Instead of sending the pets to a licensed crematorium in Jacksonville, investigators said animals were stored in garbage bags in freezers and sheds. The report also accuses the Rayans of giving customers ashes collected from a burn pit behind the business.

The report reveals that customers paid hundreds of dollars for what they believed were genuine cremations. One Kingsland pet owner, Janine Trala, said she trusted the business with her family’s pets. “So finding out this happened is awful. It’s just as bad as treating human remains improperly; they’re a part of your family. It’s devastating.” Now she is left wondering what’s really inside the sealed box she was given. “I’m disgusted,” she said. 

Records also note that Nader Rayan previously served 18 months in prison for mishandling human remains at a funeral home in Nassau County.

The property owner, Stephen Kuzniar, is identified in the report as a licensed cremationist. He tells us the Rayans were never on his payroll. He also says Amanda Rayan is his ex-wife, who stayed at the Kingsland facility to make and sell memorial boxes.

Kuzniar’s full written statement in response to this case can be found below: 

“I was recently made aware of an incident involving our location in Kingsland Ga. I am deeply disturbed by these reports and take them very seriously. I want to express my sincerest and most profound apologies to the individuals affected by this incident. The behavior does not reflect the values and standards of conduct that our company expects. I have zero tolerance for actions that harm, disrespect, or undermine the dignity of any family we serve. Upon learning of this matter, we immediately launched an internal investigation. We are fully cooperating with the Kingsland police department. We have taken swift and appropriate action in response, and are actively reviewing our internal policies and procedures to understand how this happened and to prevent it from ever happening again.”

Police say this remains an active investigation.