When its Halloween, the media is naturally attracted to a story that involves horror and a cemetery. The Belleville News-Democrat found a new type of horror for its seasonal article involving a cemetery: Missing Trust Funds!
For added suspense, the newspaper reports there are two cemeteries, and both were (or are?) owned and operated by Forever Illinois, a sister corporation of National Prearranged Services. Determining who owns and operates the cemeteries seems to be an issue of confusion for the Illinois regulators. The cemeteries have turned into a hot potato.
Concerns over the Forever Missouri cemeteries had to have influenced Missouri regulators’ efforts to seek new enforcement authorities in Chapter 214. Unlike their Illinois counterparts, Missouri regulators lack clear authority to involve either the attorney general’s office or local prosecutors.