Families Accuse of Neglect at Royal Oak Memorial Gardens

BROOKVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) – Families who have lost loved ones at Royal Oak Memorial Gardens are speaking out about their distressing experiences. From broken and missing gravestones to flooded burial plots, the allegations paint a troubling picture of neglect and mismanagement at the local cemetery.

Leah Hawthorn’s family was forced to take legal action to recover their money after being misled by the cemetery. Eventually, they moved their loved ones to another location. Similarly, Sandra Karl has witnessed firsthand the poor treatment of graves at Royal Oak, including those of her own parents.

“You should not buy a plot at Royal Oak,” said Karl. “It will bring you a lot of misery.”

A History of Neglect

Karl’s father was buried at Royal Oak in 2009, and her mother followed in 2021. She visits the graves weekly and has documented several issues. Karl described how nameplates for veterans have been run over by tractors, new caskets have been brought in without care, and graves have become overflowing with mud. She also shared that her parents’ nameplate was cracked into a V shape due to the cemetery’s vehicles.

“They must have buried someone just beyond the gravestone,” said Karl. “The grave plate—they ran over it, cracked the granite. I have pictures of it in a V.”

Karl says the cemetery staff initially promised to fix the damage but failed to follow through. It wasn’t until she asked, “Who do I contact above you?” that the issue was addressed. While the nameplate was eventually fixed, Karl emphasizes that it took persistence to get any action taken.

“You have to be bold,” said Karl. “That death is not the end because the grave is there forever and ever, and that you need to stand up for those who have passed on.”

Responses from the Cemetery

A spokesperson for Everstory Partners, which owns Royal Oak, stated that they were made aware of concerns several months ago. The statement read: “We recognize that families turn to us during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and they deserve compassion, clear communication, and care. If there are any concerns that have not yet been brought forward, we encourage families to contact us directly so we can address them promptly and assist in bringing closure to their grief.”

However, Leah Hawthorn’s experience highlights ongoing issues. It took a trip to court to get her family’s money back, and her father and brother’s remains were eventually moved to another cemetery. Hawthorn claims that most of her family’s grievances occurred within the past six months, despite Everstory’s assertion that major changes have been made.

“This isn’t just about how they let the cemetery go into ruins and the gravestones,” said Hawthorn. “This is about the lying and the way that they treat the loved ones.”

A Lasting Impact

Hawthorn hopes others will avoid Royal Oak and shares her family’s decision to keep the three original plots they purchased. “There’s three grave sites there that will never have anything in them,” she said. “We’re not going to sell to someone to go through what we went through.”

Everystory did not comment specifically on the allegations made by Hawthorn and Karl.

Additionally, 2 NEWS recently learned that Everstory Partners sent an email to Royal Oak customers announcing price increases for memorial products and services starting January 1.