Former Indiana Funeral Home Owner Charged with 64 Counts of Theft

Zalo Wilson accused of stealing over $500,000 from prepaid funeral arrangements at his funeral homes

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A former funeral home owner from northeastern Indiana has been arrested in Maine on more than 60 theft charges. Zalo Wilson faces 64 counts of theft for stealing over $500,000 from people who prepaid for funeral arrangements at his Wilson-Shook Funeral Homes locations. The scam involved all four of his funeral home locations, where he gave victims fake paperwork and took their money instead of placing the funds in the proper trust accounts.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of thorough oversight and regulation of the funeral home industry, as well as the need for consumers to carefully vet funeral providers before making prepaid arrangements. Funeral scams can devastate vulnerable families during an already difficult time.

The details

According to the Randolph County Sheriff's Department, Wilson gave victims fake paperwork and took their money instead of placing the funds in Funeral Plan Trust accounts set up through MasterChoice. The investigation began in November after the department received multiple complaints from residents who discovered their trust funds did not exist.

  • The Randolph County Sheriff's Department opened an investigation in November 2025 after receiving multiple complaints.
  • Zalo Wilson was found and arrested in Aroostook County, Maine, on Friday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Zalo Wilson

A former funeral home owner from northeastern Indiana who has been charged with 64 counts of theft for stealing over $500,000 from people who prepaid for funeral arrangements at his Wilson-Shook Funeral Homes locations.

Kenny Marquis

A 67-year-old former police officer who was trying to prepay for his own funeral arrangements at one of Wilson's funeral homes, but lost between $3,500 and $4,000 when the scam was uncovered.

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What they’re saying

“I lost approximately…I think it's between $3,500 and $4,000. My girlfriend tried to get on the funeral home's website to get obituaries, and she seen where it was closed. So I called and checked into it with a buddy of mine, and he said they had run off.”

— Kenny Marquis, Victim (WISH-TV)

What’s next

At last check, Zalo Wilson was awaiting extradition to Indiana to face the 64 theft charges.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger regulation and oversight of the funeral home industry to protect consumers from scams and theft, especially when it comes to prepaid funeral arrangements. Consumers should thoroughly research funeral providers before making any payments or arrangements.