Delco mayor charged in funeral home scam

MEDIA, Pa. - August 21, 2009 -- A suburban Philadelphia mayor is facing theft charges for allegedly bilking over $75,000 from customers of the funeral home he owned.

The Delaware County District Attorney's office says 68-year-old Glenolden Mayor Theodore Bathurst defrauded customers over a nine-year period. Authorities say Bathurst paid operating expenses using money from a fund customers could pay into in advance.

Bathurst was arraigned Friday. He faces a total of 114 charges including theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Following his arraignment, Bathurst said he was sorry but would not say whether he would step down as mayor.

Glenolden solicitor Mike Puppio said in a statement the charges have nothing to do with Bathurst's duties as mayor and he has no control over borough finances.

Bathurst sold the funeral home in 2007.

Follow Action News on Twitter

Get Action News on your website

Follow Action News on Facebook

Click here to get the latest Philadelphia news and headlines from across the Delaware and Lehigh valleys.

Get more Local/State »

local/state

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•