KINGSLAND, Ga. – The former manager of an Atlantic Beach cemetery, who served jail time after he was accused of ripping off dozens of families who called the I-TEAM for help in 2016, was arrested again and charged in a similar case.
Nader “John” Rayan, 44, is now accused of two counts of theft by deception after customers of Compassionate Care Pet Crematory Services in Kingsland reported they had been defrauded and that pet remains were mishandled. Rayan’s wife, Amanda Rayan, was also arrested and accused of two counts of party to a crime.
Kingsland Police said officers first got a complaint on July 13. That complaint was called in by David Cunningham, who trusted the Rayans with his 11-year-old dog Bella’s remains.
Cunningham said Nader Rayan personally picked up Bella and charged him $700 in cash, offering a “veteran discount.”
“I never heard back from him,” Cunningham said. “I kept calling and calling… so I went to Kingsland and talked to the police.”
After Cunningham’s report, officers obtained a search warrant. Police wrote that items Cunningham later received — hair clippings, paw prints, and ashes — “appeared suspicious and unprofessional.” Investigators said they were denied access to a shed where Cunningham believed Bella’s remains were stored. A cremation tag issued by the Rayans, police added, matched a cremation from November 2024.
“I feel bad because I helped him load our pet into his truck… He gave a good speech, and he’s not a good person,” Cunningham said. “We just want closure.”
Investigators went to the business on Aug. 26 where they arrested the Rayans. They were called out again on Thursday, following a disturbance, and said they found animal remains in plain view.
A second search warrant was obtained and executed with the help of the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, police said. A veterinarian examined the remains that were found and scanned them for microchips to identify the rightful owners.
News4JAX went to Compassionate Care Pet Crematory Services on Friday and saw police there digging up remains.
“This is one of the most heartbreaking cases I have encountered in my career. Our pets are not just animals — they are family. To discover that grieving families were taken advantage of during such a painful time is beyond upsetting. On behalf of the City of Kingsland, I extend my deepest condolences to every family affected. Please know that we will fight for justice for your beloved companions, and we will not tolerate anyone who preys on the trust of families in their time of sorrow," Police Chief Rick Evans wrote in a statement.
Nader Rayan was initially arrested in July 2016 after a series of I-TEAM investigations revealed more than 70 complaints against him and his wife, who used to own Beaches Memorial Park and First Coast Funeral home in Atlantic Beach.
He was later sentenced to 18 months in prison after agreeing to a plea deal before trial.
He pleaded guilty to organized fraud, failure to appear on bond, and false verification of ownership to a secondary metals recycler -- for selling metal vases from grave markers.
Complaints from customers in 2016 accused Nader Rayan and his wife of either mistreatment, overcharging or simply not providing services that had been paid for, including grave markers.
Rayan was also ordered to pay restitution to all of the victims from whom he accepted money without providing services.
He never offered an apology in court.
According to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office jail records, Nader Rayan was booked into jail last month and released three days later on bond. Amanda Rayan, 43, was arrested the same day as her husband and was released Sept. 1 on bond.
Property records show the Kingsland site is owned by Steve Kuzniar, who was previously married to Amanda Rayan. He told police he is a licensed cremationist but had not performed a cremation for the Rayans since last year, according to investigators. He spoke with police during the search and is not currently facing charges.
Kuzniar issued a statement on the arrests to News4JAX:
“I was recently made aware of an incident involving our location in Kingsland Ga. I am deeply disturbed by these reports and take them very seriously. I want to express my sincerest and most profound apologies to the individuals affected by this incident. The behavior does not reflect the values and standards of conduct that our company expects. I have zero tolerance for actions that harm, disrespect, or undermine the dignity of any family we serve. Upon learning of this matter, we immediately launched an internal investigation. We are fully cooperating with the Kingsland police department. We have taken swift and appropriate action in response, and are actively reviewing our internal policies and procedures to understand how this happened and to prevent it from ever happening again.”
Compassionate Care Pet Cremation’s website lists two Jacksonville locations associated with the same property owner.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who used Compassionate Care Pet Crematory Services and believes they were defrauded is asked to contact Kingsland police.