Two Bladenboro residents charged after woman allegedly paid for headstone she never received
BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Two Bladenboro residents are facing felony charges after a woman reported paying for three headstones for loved ones but receiving only two, which she said did not match what she ordered.
According to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, the woman purchased three headstones from Memory Lane Monuments in Bladenboro approximately two years ago.
Investigators say two of the headstones were delivered, but the woman reported they were not what she had ordered and paid for.
At the time, the woman was referred to civil court to address the dispute.
Authorities say it was later discovered that the third headstone, which had been purchased separately from the first two, was never delivered.
The sheriff’s office launched an investigation and consulted with the District Attorney’s Office about pursuing criminal charges.
Two charged with felony obtaining property by false pretenses
Following the investigation, deputies charged two Bladenboro residents:
- Phyllis Hester McDaniel, 56: Felony obtaining property by false pretenses.
- James Kynston Lee Rittenhouse, 33: Felony obtaining property by false pretenses.
According to the sheriff’s office, McDaniel turned herself in and received a $5,000 unsecured bond.
Rittenhouse had not been served with his arrest warrants at the time of the sheriff’s office announcement.
Authorities did not disclose the amount of money involved in the alleged offense or provide additional details about the investigation.
