Woman sentenced to more than 10 years for robbing homes while residents attended funerals: officials.
A Bronx woman was sentenced to a decade in prison for robbing six homes while the occupants attended funerals, according to authorities.
Latonia Stewart was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for each of the robbery charges, each at the same time, and an indeterminate term of one to three years in state prison to be consecutive to the 10-year sentence.
She was convicted of using obituaries to attack the homes of families she knew were attending funerals in Westchester County, authorities said in October.
The jury found Stewart, 30, guilty of six counts of theft and criminal possession of the stolen property, Westchester County District Attorney Miraim Rocah said.
Between December 2017 and May 2018, Stewart robbed six homes in Cortlandt, Greenburgh, Ossining, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, and Tarrytown, the district attorney said.
Residents of those Westchester homes were out of the home to attend their spouse’s wake or funeral, according to officials.
Stewart searched through obituaries online and targeted associated households, stealing jewelry, watches, silverware and other valuables, Rocah said.
Police arrested Steward on May 1, 2018, after observing her driving from a deceased person’s home with jewelry in the vehicle and a website with an obituary on her phone, according to authorities.
More stolen items and burglar tools in his car and at his Bronx residence were recovered after his arrest, the district attorney said.
“It is absolutely appalling that people mourning the loss of a loved one have been specifically targeted and taken advantage of in such a cruel and egregious way,” said DA Rocah. “I commend the great work of my team, the Greenburgh Police Department, and the other law enforcement partners who handled this case, and I hope this verdict brings some comfort to the victims.”
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