• Radar
  • 7 Day Forecast
  • Live Weather Video

WEEK Weather

Radar
46 °F
CLEAR
WIND : WNW
3 mph
HUMIDITY : 73 %
May 12, 2008
More Weather
  • News
  • Weather
  • Sports
  • Features
  • YouNewsTV
  • Programming
  • Community
  • Inside WEEK
  • Contact Us
  • Olympic Zone
  • Local & Regional
  • US & World
  • Business
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Political
  • Closings
  • News Links
  • Traffic

Mausoleum Owner Questioned By Families

Tools

  • Save
  • E-mail
  • Print
  • YouNewsTV™
  • Most Popular
  • RSS Feed
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
Mausoleum Owner Questioned By Families

By Jeff Muniz

Story Published: May 7, 2008 at 5:03 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 7, 2008 at 8:03 PM CDT

It was a day full of frustration for local families with loved ones laid to rest in a now closed mausoleum. American Mausoleum and owner Robert Wilton filed for bankruptcy in March. Today at a creditors' hearing, families were able to question Wilton over the closure.

Multimedia

  • Watch The Video

Because the mausoleum is closed, family members can't do anything with their loved ones who are entombed there.

Instead, the grass is overgrown and the doors remain locked at the American Mausoleum on Allen Road in Peoria.

More than 200 people packed a federal courtroom today and peppered Wilton about his bankruptcy filing.

Shirley Mallory's husband is entombed at the mausoleum and said, "My emotions have gone through the gamut: anger, frustration. I'm just coming out of grief and this throws me right back."

Connie Brun's parents are also there and she said, "It's not about the money. It is about people thinking at this stage of their life, they have a secure place to go. They have their loved one there and they want to be next to their loved one."

Many of their questions went unanswered like when they would be able to move the crypts or tombs.

Robert Wilton owned the mausoleum since 1999 under a separate entity that's not legally connected to the funeral home.

His attorney, Gary Rafool, says Wilton was losing at least 5-thousand dollars a month.

Rafool says, "He (Wilton) has had money put in by him or one of his entities to keep it in operation. That doesn't sound like someone wanting to shelter and get in and out if doesn't work."

Rafool says Wilton is very sad about the situation and is talking with a potential buyer. But, Wilton says the building needs about half million dollars in repairs.

In the meantime, the state is trying to find a receiver to take over the mausoleum. That person could then open up a half-million dollar trust to possibly allow families to move their loved ones or even refund some of their money.

View Oldest Comments First

Thursday, May 8 at 6:50 PM shirley crew wrote ...

i am in bryson city n. carolina with a mother in law 82 years old she does not know what is happening in peoria she thinks her resting place is going to be by her husband we have decided not to tell her it could kill her she has a major case of copd i have a mther and fater there that my brother has taken care of for years with flowers and cant even do that now hanging by a thread help sure could use a answer like every one else that is 13 hrs away

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 7 at 10:10 PM Vicki M wrote ...

I laid my father to rest a year ago this Sunday at the mausoleum. I, like many others are very upset that Mr. Wilton continued to take our money knowing the mausoleum was in serious financial trouble. All we are asking for are some answers and we are continually getting the runaround.

Flag for moderation

Wednesday, May 7 at 7:56 PM sean s peo. wrote ...

we just put our mother out there last oct now what do we do because both of our parents are in there !so now what that place has need help for years so were do we put them if we have to move them

Flag for moderation

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WEEK News 25 and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Most Popular

  • Winds Topple Trees, Power Lines
  • Shooting outside of Club
    Watch Video
  • Early Morning Not Tough For Teens
    Watch Video
  • Behind Bars On Child Porn Charges
    Watch Video
  • Ride For The Cure
    Watch Video
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Special Features

  • Week Your Health Matters Week Your Health Matters
  • Whos Hiring Whos Hiring
  • PSA PSA
  • Contests Contests
  • Buddy Check Buddy Check

On Demand

  • All Video All Video
  • News 25 @ Your Desk News 25 @ Your Desk
    Watch Video
  • RSS Feeds RSS Feeds
  • News 25 Notifier News 25 Notifier
  • Mobile Edition Mobile Edition

Stock Quotes

What's On TonightFull Schedule

7:00
American Gladiators
9:00
Medium
Local Business Dir

Most Popular

  • Winds Topple Trees, Power Lines
  • Shooting outside of Club
    Watch Video
  • Early Morning Not Tough For Teens
    Watch Video
  • Behind Bars On Child Porn Charges
    Watch Video
  • Ride For The Cure
    Watch Video
  • High wind bring down tree
  • Survivors Take Strides Together
    Watch Video
  • Mother's Day Births
    Watch Video
  • Price Break for Consumers
    Watch Video
  • Race for the Cure

Poll

What are you doing for Komen Peoria Race For The Cure...

  • Volunteering?
  • Participating in an event?
  • Donating money?
  • Staying home?
Copyright © 2008
WEEK, a Granite Broadcasting Station
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
NBC
Powered by Broadcast Interactive Media.