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Woman threatened with jail because she can't afford husband's cremation

A US elderly woman claims a funeral home threatened to press charges that would lead to possible jail time when she couldn't afford to have her late husband cremated.

Betty Starnes, from Georgia, said she made it clear to funeral home Southern Cremations that she couldn't pay the expenses for storing and cremating her late veteran husband Kenneth Starnes up front.

Not only did she lose her husband less than two weeks ago but she was also facing jail time and losing her freedom, American broadcaster WSB-TV reports.

Betty Starnes claims the funeral home was going to press charges. Source: WSB-TV
Betty Starnes claims the funeral home was going to press charges. Source: WSB-TV

“It’s just unconscionable when you’ve lost somebody you love,” she said.

“I went to pieces. I said I’m not going to jail and I’m not a crook."

Starnes said when her husband died on October 6 she contacted the funeral home not long after to take his body.

Two weeks later, the funeral home allegedly threatened to press charges against Ms Starnes for abandonment of the body if she couldn't pay the US$1,000 bill.

“He [the owner] said this is a felony offence. I said, 'I’m not a felon. I want my husband’s body, but you won’t let me have it. You won’t work with me',” Starnes said.

Ms Starnes couldn't afford the cremation of her late husband. Source: WSB-TV
Ms Starnes couldn't afford the cremation of her late husband. Source: WSB-TV

The owner of the funeral home later said Ms Starnes signed a contract and "understood that payment would be required prior to cremation".

"She indicated that payment would be rendered by October 9," the owner said in a statement.

“We have not received payment for any of our services and have been actively working with the family for several days to address this unfortunate situation."

Ms Starnes claims the business knew she wouldn't pay up front.

Kenneth Starnes died on October 6. Source: WSB-TV
Kenneth Starnes died on October 6. Source: WSB-TV

“I said we don’t have cash up front. You people knew that coming in,” Starnes said.

Since Ms Starnes' story made headlines, Southern Cremations offered to perform their services for free.

However, she says she is going to use SouthCare Cremation and Funeral Society after it offered to take her husband's body and do the cremation for free.