Authorities are searching for three people they say have been going to cemeteries all over the country and stealing heirlooms left with the deceased, Florida authorities said.
Drake Lee Milam, 33, his girlfriend, Porsche Bancroft, 32, and her mother, Angela Garrett, 52, all from the Indianapolis area, are responsible for at least 20 thefts from tombs, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It’s believed there are more cases.
“What a horrible person you are if you decide to steal from the dead,” Orange County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Cole Brazee said Wednesday.
What are people stealing from the dead in Florida?
Brazee said the suspects go into mausoleums, find urns and take any valuables people have left with their deceased family members or friends.
“Their loved ones will leave like some jewelry that meant something to them in that niche with their remains,” Brazee said. “They’ve been everywhere from Oklahoma City to Minnesota to Texas, here in Florida. They visited Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina and even so far northeast as to Buffalo, New York.”
What to do if you suspect valuables were stolen from a deceased loved one
Authorities are encouraging people to visit grave sites of their loved ones and make sure valuables are still there.
“There could be a significant amount of individuals that have been victimized that just don’t know it yet,” Brazee said.
Central Florida Crimeline is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to arrests.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: People stealing jewelry, valuables from cemeteries, Florida cops say
Reporting by Michelle Spitzer, USA TODAY NETWORK / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Michelle Spitzer, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
