Alleged Tomb‑Raiding Trio Arrested in Cross‑Country Cemetery Theft Spree

Authorities say three Indiana residents have been arrested in connection with a multi‑state cemetery theft ring that targeted mausoleum niches containing cremated remains across the eastern half of the United States. Investigators describe the crimes as “disturbing thefts from the dead,” with at least 20 confirmed cases in Florida alone.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida says the suspects broke into glass‑front cemetery niches, removed urns, and stole jewelry and family heirlooms placed with the deceased. Surveillance footage from multiple mausoleums allegedly shows the trio prying open displays, taking items, and walking out calmly.

“What a horrible person you are if you decide to steal from the dead,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said, urging families nationwide to check their loved ones’ burial sites for missing items.

The Arrests

Within days of the investigation going public, Drake Lee Milam, 33, and Angela Garrett, 52, were arrested in Indiana. Porsche Bancroft, 32, identified in court records as Milam’s girlfriend and Garrett’s daughter, later turned herself in at the Seminole County Jail in Florida.

Bancroft’s arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 22 in Sanford, Florida, with a trial set for Feb. 8. Milam and Garrett are expected to be extradited to Florida to face charges.

All three suspects face multiple counts, including injuring or removing a tomb or monument, disturbing the contents of a grave, and grand theft over $20,000.

A Cross‑Country Pattern

Investigators say the trio traveled widely, hitting cemeteries in:

Florida
Oklahoma
Minnesota
Texas
Georgia
Iowa
North Carolina
New York
Illinois
New Jersey

Authorities believe the group targeted niches containing valuable jewelry, including wedding rings, championship rings, and other sentimental items placed with cremated remains.

In one case, a Florida man reported the theft of his late wife’s platinum‑and‑diamond wedding ring and her engagement solitaire. In another, the widow of former University of Central Florida offensive coordinator Charles Taaffe discovered his two gold championship rings missing from his niche.

Scope of the Losses

Florida investigators have identified $35,000 worth of stolen valuables across cemeteries in Orange, Seminole, and Hillsborough counties. They warn the true number of victims may be far higher, as many families may not yet realize items have been taken.

“The dollar amount is not what’s important,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said. “Having a loved one’s final resting place disturbed is deeply painful, and no arrest can undo that.”

Ongoing Investigation

Detectives are working to identify additional victims and encourage families to inspect mausoleum niches for missing items. Anyone with information is urged to contact Central Florida authorities.