COLUMBIA, Tenn.- A former employee of the Columbia funeral home that burned to the ground this week, has been arrested on charges of stealing thousands of dollars from customers.
Fifty-nine year old Carl Richard Points was arrested Tuesday, the same day that the Williams Funeral Home on Trotwood Drive was destroyed by fire.
Fire officials have ruled the blaze accidental and said that there was no apparent connection between Points' arrest and the fire.
Police began to investigate Points in February after funeral homes owner Alan Blevins reported that in November 2009 Points had failed to turn in nearly $10,000 in cash that was paid to the funeral home by a family for funeral arrangements.
According to police documents, both Blevins and the funeral home's accounting manager Mary Beckum asked Points several times about the money, but never received an answer. Points told his employers that the family was not able to pay for the arrangements.
The theft came to light recently when the family complained about the funeral home's services.
