SELMA – A 73 year-old woman dealing with the death of her husband was allegedly victimized by a local funeral director.
Van-Boris Peterkin, 47, of Clayton, the funeral director at V.B. Peterkin Funeral Home at 901 S. Pollock Street, Selma is charged with obtaining property by false pretenses.
The out-of-state victim said she contacted V.B. Peterson Funeral Home last year to arrange the purchase of two burial plots in Selma Memorial Gardens. One plot was for her deceased husband and the other for herself.
The victim sent two wire transfers totaling move than $9,000 to the funeral home to cover the funeral cost, which included the two burial plots and grave markers, according to a contract and receipts she reportedly gave police.
She told Selma Police she had been dealing directly with the funeral director, Van-Boris Peterkin.
According to Selma Police, detectives confirmed the widow made two separate wire transfers. The first was for $5,620 to cover her husband’s funeral expense and the second transfer for $3,750 to cover her grave plot and the grave markers.
The victim said Peterkin had not returned the $3,750 that was paid to him for the second plot and markers.
She was forced to pay for the second plot and markers herself even after she had allegedly being told multiple times by the funeral director they had been taken care of.
Selma Police obtained a felony warrant for Van-Boris Peterkin. On August 20 he was located by Clayton Police and arrested.
Stephen Davis, Executive Director of the NC Board of Funeral Service told The Johnston County Report, “Mr. Peterkin is a licensed Funeral Director of the NC Board of Funeral Service. His license is currently active. Information about pending disciplinary matters is not subject to disclosure under public records laws…”
Johnston County Report attempted to reach Mr. Peterkin for a comment but a phone number listed for him went to voicemail.
V.B. Peterkin Funeral Home has 14 Google reviews and a 5 star ranking. One review stated, “Prices are reasonable and services are great.”
