State Cracks Down on Tombstone Company
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For more than 2 years, the Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General’s office have been investigating a tombstone business and its operator.
The allegation: The owner, Marcus Jones, took orders from grieving families and never delivered the products promised.
On February 12th, the Attorney General’s office took the aggressive measure of banning Marcus Donnell Jones of Jones Memorial and Half Off Stones from doing business in Tennessee.
In addition the state leveled fines, court costs, and restitution that total close to 300,000 dollars.
In July 2008, Messed Up cameras spent days tracking down Mr. Jones.
We got involved after a Nebraska TV reporter told us the story of baby Nate. The one year old died and was buried. His parents ordered a Headstone from Jones Memorials. The Nebraska family paid thousands of dollars, but never got the child’s headstone.
Here is what Mr. Jones tells us on the front lawn of his North Nashville house:
“My business is like anyone else’s business. If I had anything to say to each one of those families, it is this: I have given it everything I got. To pick up materials, to go five hours away to get materials. To cut costs. To bring them good prices. Unfortunately, the economy has taken a bite out of my finances like everyone else’s. I have material on site that is there and ready to be carved. A lot of lettering that needs to be done, but personally, physically, emotionally, and financially, I am beat.”
“What would you say to a family like this? What would you say to Nate of Nebraska?,” Andy asked.
“Well not only to Nate in Nebraska, I am not going to make this about an infant’s headstone. I have plenty of families. I got people deceased for forty years, and some for two months. The point is, no business wants to close. If I could stay open I would. But right now, I can’t afford to stay open. I will say, I am sorry to many families. If there was a magic wand I could wave to make sure the work was done over night, I would, but unfortunately, there isn’t.”
We wanted to get an updated response from Mr. Jones. We called a number we had for him. A man answered and told us that this was his new number and he didn’t know anyone named Marcus Jones.
As part of his February 12th 2010 press release, State Attorney General Bob Cooper said this:
“We hope these judgments will serve as a reminder to businesses to practice good ethics and to be honest with their customers. We also encourage consumers to do a little research on the reputation of the companies by checking with such organizations as the Division of Consumer Affairs and the BBB before they purchase from a company.”
To read the entire press release, click here.
