CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. — A couple who ran a pet cremation business in Kingsland, Georgia, are in Camden County Jail after they were extradited this week.

Amanda and Nader Rayan were arrested in New Orleans in August, with police planning to extradite them to Georgia. They are each charged with 40 counts of abandonment of dead animals and one count of ‘dumping egregious litter.’

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 said the Rayans of giving customers ashes collected from a burn pit behind the business.

Following their arrests, police spent two days digging behind the business, Compassionate Care Pet Cremation, digging up black bags.

The report reveals that customers paid hundreds of dollars for what they believed were genuine cremations.

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.”

The couple are both being held on $100,000 bond.