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 more 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.”
Good enough ! This isn’t the first time he has scammed the elderly. Make a example out of he >
What else did he do? Makes sense if he’s done this he’s done it to others.
Make example out of you He has always done right by family
I don’t know anything at all about this man except the information discussed in this article, however, something don’t sit right with me and this man’s eyes. They look empty and distant, cold-like….the look of someone who can’t be trusted.
Took this man almost 2 weeks to get me my daddy ashes back ! Kept making excuses!
The same for me! Took him almost 2 weeks to return my uncle’s ashes and the service I purchased came with an urn. I got my uncle’s ashes back in a box and when I asked about the urn he said he’d ordered it but it hadn’t came in yet. I called for two weeks about the urn and never got it.
He cheap
Really, did you have all information
You lied
Just deal with Parrish Funeral Home directly…. they are good people and will help you out tremendously.
Bill know you information before posting
Come on Van
Really
A elderly lady paid him for life insurance for each month for nearly 2 years and he only made on payment during the 2 years. What a scammer .
Why don’t you go to him instead of putting on this. You are Messy
Y’all is lyin, this man didn’t do anything wrong. FREE VAN
These comments scream Tasha, Tonya, Piggy give it a break!!
The story was partially interesting. The comments are awesome.