Brownstown funeral home director facing charges

A former Funeral Home Director in Jackson County was recently charged with numerous felonies related to the thefts of money from the funeral trust funds of several people.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, says the investigation began in August of 2017 when an alleged victim reported that money given to the Winklepleck-Weesner Funeral Home for the purpose of establishing a pre-need trust was missing. Over the course of the next few months, numerous individuals reported they had paid Funeral Home Director James D. Weesner Jr. payments meant to be applied to trusts at a local Brownstown bank. When the victims checked with the bank, they were informed that no trusts existed. The trusts were intended to be established to pay for future funeral expenses through the funeral home. Investigators believe that Weesner never established the trusts and kept the money, totaling approximately $200,000 from 20 victims, for personal use.

Authorities say that Weesner, who lives in Indianapolis, was charged with 25 level felony counts of Wrongful Disbursement of Funeral Trust Funds and one felony count of Corrupt Business Influence. This case is still pending in the Jackson County Circuit Court.