TUPELO, Miss. (AP) — A Corinth businessman was the only bidder for Oaklawn Memorial Park cemetery in Booneville.
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann announced Tuesday that Jeff Rencher bought the cemetery, which had been operated by a court-appointed receiver for more than a year.
Former cemetery owner Wayne Hight was sentenced in January to serve four years after pleading guilty to four counts of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars. The embezzlement involved pre-need burial funds from two cemeteries he owned in Prentiss and Alcorn counties.
Hosemann became receiver for the two cemeteries in November of 2011. The Alcorn County cemetery, Forrest Memorial Park, remains in receivership.
Hosemann says the change of ownership was concluded this past week.
Hosemann says Rencher’s bid on the property includes a $3,456 cash payment.
