US News
Three Indiana residents arrested in alleged cross-country cemetery theft spree
Authorities say the suspects targeted burial niches across several states to steal jewelry and other heirlooms from cremated remains.
The short version
- Three suspects from Indiana have been arrested and accused of breaking into cemetery niches across the eastern half of the U.S. to steal valuables placed with cremated remains.
- Law enforcement officials have identified at least 20 cases in Florida, with total stolen valuables estimated at more than $35,000.
- Police are urging families nationwide to inspect their loved ones' burial sites, as detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims.
Key facts
- Three Indiana residents—Drake Lee Milam, Angela Garrett, and Porsche Bancroft—were arrested in connection with the cemetery thefts.[Fox News]
- The suspects face multiple charges, including injuring or removing a tomb or monument, disturbing the contents of a grave, and grand theft over $20,000.[Fox News]
- Surveillance videos allegedly depict the trio breaking into glass-front mausoleum niches to extract personal items and mementos.[Fox News]
- The Orange County Sheriff's Office reported that the trio traveled through numerous states, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas.[Fox News]
- Bancroft surrendered to authorities in Seminole County, Florida, and is scheduled for arraignment on September 22, while Milam and Garrett await extradition from Indiana.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- The full scale of the thefts remains unknown as detectives believe additional victims have not yet discovered that their loved ones' niches were disturbed.[Fox News]