photo courtesy of WSBTV
A former Anthony L. Watkins Funeral Home employee in Jonesboro, Georgia, named Danielle Longino, has been charged with crimes for scamming multiple grieving families out of nearly $100,000. After an extended search for her, police apprehended Longino on December 9. She turned herself in under the pressure of having her photo and description sent out to multiple news outlets and social media sites.
According to WSB-TV, the 34-year-old allegedly scammed vulnerable families by pretending to be still employed at the funeral home where she used to work. Jonesboro Police Chief Tommy Henderson said in a press statement, “She would contact several victims after they suffered a death in the family while they were making arrangements. She would scam them out of the money for caskets and funeral services.”
Longino racked up payments from her victims by utilizing her knowledge of the family-run funeral home’s procedures. She sold them fake personalized experiences: caskets, flowers, and tribute videos. Even after leaving her position, she kept in touch with the clients and deceived them into giving her money for services that she was no longer in a position to provide.
Henderson said, “To my knowledge, they were looking for services at the funeral home, and in some cases, she would contact them,”
Friends of Longino told the outlet that they both felt bad for the woman and those that she hurt. A childhood friend of the suspect said, “Something must be wrong. But I also feel for the people that were scammed,” She continued to say that she needed “Justice and hopefully help. I think she needs help.”
The full amount of all that Danielle fraudulently received hasn’t been identified at this time, but investigators stated that its over $80,000. Longino currently is awaiting further court appearances in Clayton County Jail.