But many of the couple's 135 victims -- whose prepaid funeral money wasn't escrowed -- question whether they can repay the money, given that Mark Buehler, 63, no longer has a mortuary license and the couple have more than $500,000 in debt.
In a hearing Tuesday, Macomb County Circuit Judge John C. Foster postponed sentencing the couple until July 28.
"I'm not happy," Norma Migliore of Eastpointe said after the hearing. She said her mother, Joan Carrier, 76, of Roseville is out nearly $5,000.
Foster said he wants to "assure people who put money down get their funerals or get their money back." He allowed victims or their relatives to speak at the hearing.
"She took every last penny she had and we gave it to these people," Migliore said of her mother, who is hospitalized.
Migliore said the likelihood of the Buehlers finding work to repay the money is zero.
Ralph Daniels, 76, of St. Clair Shores agreed.
"There's no way that these people can pay these people back," he said. His mother-in-law lost about $500, he said.
Last month, the Buehlers pleaded guilty to 37 counts of funeral contracts conversion. They are accused of spending the money instead of putting it into escrow.
Lisa Buehler's attorney, Robert Buschmohle, said he thinks the majority of the money went back into the operation. Police seized the couple's Lexus and Jaguar.
Buschmohle said the Buehlers, who did not speak Tuesday, empathize with the victims and are extremely distraught. They're living off family and friends, trying to find jobs, and are attempting to find a partner or have someone buy the funeral home.
They could be sentenced to five years in prison. Buschmohle said current sentencing guidelines range from five to 23 months.
Source http://www.freep.com/
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