The business of mourning has been tainted with alleged deceit as Elena Moreno, the owner of Angelic Monuments in San Antonio, faces charges for swindling customers out of over $40,000 meant for memorials of their loved ones. According to KSAT, Moreno was arrested and released on a $35,000 bond after being accused of pocketing payments for headstones she failed to deliver.
Victims reportedly met with Moreno between August 2020 and April 2023 handing over sums that combined total an estimated $42,264, with individual payments varying and using methods including cash, checks, and credit cards. The arrest affidavit suggests Moreno requested considerable cash upfront to "guarantee" the purchases, to which later, victims claimed being met by her silence when they attempted to follow up on their orders—a silence that echoed their hopes into voids of desperation.
Moreno had previously been arrested and released on a $5,000 bond for similar allegations, as per KSAT. Eliciting multiple complaints from aggrieved families prompted San Antonio Police to say, "There was a story that media did on this, and with that story multiple victims came out," with SAPD Public Information Officer Ricardo Guzman stating that while the initial arrest pertained to a single report, more charges could be forthcoming as detectives investigate.
Amidst promises and payment, closures seekers find their grief compounded by these allegations of theft. “It's frustrating for these families. Not being able to receive that closure from those headstones is frustrating, heartbreaking. But we're bringing justice for those families,” said Guzman, emphasizing the emotional turmoil visited upon those already burdened by loss. Whether or not justice will carve itself into reality, as a headstone might bear a name, remains an unfolding story.
When Moreno was confronted by the press, she refuted the allegations, asserting, "I did not," steal the money from these families. Regardless of her rebuttal, the SAPD continues to urge those who believe to have been victimized to step forward and reach out to their Property Crimes detectives. Meanwhile, updates on any additional charges or case developments will be provided by KSAT as they become available to the public.
