‘Tomb raiders’: Trio accused of stealing from the dead at cemeteries in at least 8 states

(Gray News) – Authorities are attempting to locate three people from Indianapolis suspected in a scheme to “steal from the dead” at cemeteries across the United States.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said Drake Milam, his girlfriend Portia Bancroft and her mother Angela Garrett have been going into cemeteries in multiple states and stealing family heirlooms from deceased people’s niches.

“Tomb raiders!” the sheriff’s office said on social media.

Investigators believe the three have stolen from cemeteries in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Texas and New York.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Cole Brazee said Milam, Bancroft and Garrett have been seen stealing valuables, such as jewelry, that were left by loved ones next to urns in the cemeteries’ mausoleums.

“What a horrible person you are if you decide to steal from the dead,” Brazee said.

In Florida, authorities are investigating approximately 20 cases involving the three individuals.

“There could be a significant amount of individuals that have been victimized that just don’t know it yet,” Brazee said.

Investigators believe the three suspects could be anywhere in the eastern half of the U.S.

Anyone with information about their locations is urged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

“If you haven’t visited your loved one in a while and you know they’re in a niche, make sure that your property is still there,” Brazee added.