A family of three has been accused of a widespread crime spree targeting cemeteries, stealing family treasures and heirlooms from the dead. Drake Lee Milam, 33, his girlfriend Porsche Bancroft, 32, and Bancroft's mother Angela Garrett, 52, face multiple charges including injuring or removing a tomb or monument, disturbing the contents of a grave or tomb, and grand theft of more than $35,000 (around £25,646).
Crime spree spans multiple states
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the suspects stole items from inside mausoleums where families leave urns containing their loved ones' cremated ashes. The trio, who all live in the Indianapolis area, allegedly targeted cemeteries in at least nine states, including Oklahoma, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, Iowa and North Carolina, with crimes spanning as far northeast as Buffalo, New York.
In Florida, officials are investigating approximately 20 suspected cases from Orlando and Winter Park to the Tampa area that they believe the gang could be behind. The total value of the stolen property is estimated to be worth more than $35,000 (around £25,646).
Emotional impact on grieving families
Despite the significant value of the stolen goods, investigators have stated that the price of the stolen items is not the most painful aspect of the alleged crime spree. In a press release, investigators stated: “But the dollar amount is not what’s important.”
They added: “Having a loved one’s final resting place disturbed and cherished family heirlooms taken is deeply painful, and we recognize that no arrest can undo what these families have experienced.”
Authorities urge families to check resting places
Mental health counsellor Cherlette McCullough stated that crimes involving gravesites can be especially difficult for grieving families. McCullough said: "It can really disrupt someone’s sense of safety who’s going through that grieving process." The licensed mental health counsellor added: “They get to this place of safety, and this type of crime can make them feel like their safety is no longer there.”
Investigators have stated there could be more victims who have not yet realised their loved one’s property is missing. Authorities have urged families to check their loved ones’ resting places to ensure they have not been victim to the crime spree.
