Owner of Grand Island headstone business again found mentally incompetent for trial

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A judge ruled Tuesday that the owner of a Nebraska headstone business accused of ripping off dozens of customers is not fit to stand trial.

Kelli Lepler, 47, was deemed mentally incompetent and ordered to continue treatment in a state psychiatric hospital.

It’s the third time that Hall County District Court Judge Andrew Butler has found Lepler unfit.

She has been in the Lincoln Regional Center since January.

SEE ALSO: Owner of Grand Island headstone business arrested on numerous felony charges

Lepler, who owned Monument Advisors in Grand Island, came under the scrutiny of law enforcement in April 2023.

A woman reported that she had paid $7,500 for a headstone in August 2021 and still had not received it.

Lepler kept giving the woman excuses about why the order had not been filled, according to an arrest affidavit.

SEE ALSO: Investigation into Nebraska headstone business finds victims lost over $200,000

The Grand Island Police Department received a total of 69 complaints.

It investigated and determined that in 43 of those cases, Lepler made no attempt to order the headstone, police said.

Lepler received a total of $258,404.34 from the 43 victims, according to GIPD.

Court documents say the investigation revealed that Lepler’s business was struggling and that she would rely on payments from new customers to fulfill old orders.

Butler will reassess Lepler’s mental competence at a hearing on Aug. 12.