Loyola forensic science professor provides key analysis in Baltimore County pet crematorium scam case

Rhys Williams, Ph.D., assistant professor of forensic science, provided critical forensic analysis in a case involving the fraudulent cremation and disposal of pets at an unlicensed pet crematorium in Baltimore County, leading to a 20-year sentence for the main perpetrator.

Williams, who specializes in forensic anthropology, analyzed samples of purported ashes given to pet owners with a suite of physical identification, alternate light sources, and elemental analysis. He was able to conclude that the samples did not include legitimate cremated remains.

“It showed clearly there were no fragments of animal bones,” said Williams. “It was just mixtures of building materials and substrate, and elementally, none of it had the composition of uncontaminated cremated bone.”

The forensic evidence helped prosecutors make the case for theft and malicious destruction of property. The result was a 20-year prison sentence for the main perpetrator—far exceeding the average sentence and accountability for crimes against animals, fraud, and mishandling remains.

“The forensic evidence helped support that the cremations were not legitimate,” Williams explained. In addition to the analyzed cremation evidence, detectives searched the property and discovered 38 pets rotting in the back of a hearse in the garden.

Williams became involved in the case in May 2025 when a member of the public contacted Baltimore City Animal Control to find out if the remains they had been given were actually the cremated remains of their pet. Loyola’s forensic science department regularly works with local animal control agencies and shelters in Maryland and recently received a grant to provide forensic training and evidence collection kits to those agencies from Show Your Soft Side, an all-volunteer nonprofit that works to prevent animal cruelty.

For Williams, who received an internal Summer Research Grant, his work will continue as he conducts further research by visiting crematoriums and expanding his database.

“At Loyola, we're establishing an institute to help investigate crimes against animals,” he said. “There's not much support given to animal crime. If there's a murder or human crime, the DNA is analyzed with more priority. When it comes to pets, it gets pushed back for months in the backlog, possibly a year, and the cruelty against animals may proceed during this time. So, we're tackling it from a few different angles, getting the animal forensics to really push forward and build strong support, resources, and training for animal crime investigations around Baltimore, Maryland, and beyond.”

This case has driven the Pet Cremation and Burial Services Consumer Protection Act in the Maryland General Assembly, which has now passed the House of Delegates and the Senate. Governor Wes Moore will sign the bill in Annapolis.