Three individuals from Indiana have been arrested in connection with a series of alleged thefts from cemetery niches containing cremated remains across the eastern United States.
According to authorities, the three individuals, Drake Lee Milam, 33, Angela Garrett, 52, and Porsche Bancroft, 32, are accused of breaking into glass-front niches and removing items, including family heirlooms and mementos.
Law enforcement agencies have identified at least 20 cases in Florida, with the Orange County Sheriff's Office urging people to check the cemeteries where their loved ones are interred. The sheriff's office believes there may be many more victims who have not yet realized they have been targeted.
The suspects allegedly traveled through multiple states, including Oklahoma, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, and New Jersey, among others. The stolen items include jewelry, rings, and other family heirlooms, some of which hold significant sentimental value.
The suspects face charges including injuring or removing a tomb or monument, disturbing the contents of a grave or tomb, and grand theft over $20,000. Milam and Garrett will be extradited to Florida to face charges, while Bancroft's arraignment is scheduled for September 22 in Sanford, Florida.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is urging people nationwide to check their loved ones' burial sites to ensure that cherished items are still in place.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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