Indiana trio arrested for stealing heirlooms from cremation niches across multiple states
Three suspects from Indiana have been taken into custody for breaking into cemetery niches and stealing personal items from cremated remains in several states.
Law enforcement agencies allege that a three-person team from Indiana conducted a series of break-ins at cemetery niches containing cremated remains, stealing family heirlooms across the eastern United States. Surveillance footage shows the trio entering glass-front compartments, taking items such as wedding rings, championship medals and gold chains before leaving the sites. Drake Lee Milam, 33, and Angela Garrett, 52, were arrested in Indiana, while Porsche Bancroft, 32, turned herself in at a jail in Seminole County, Florida.
The suspects face multiple counts, including grand theft exceeding $20,000, injuring or removing a tomb, and disturbing the contents of a grave. Detectives have documented twenty cases in Florida and suspect many more nationwide, urging families to verify that items placed with loved ones remain intact.
Why it matters
It highlights a rare but disturbing crime that affects grieving families and raises concerns about cemetery security.
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