Authorities say three Indianapolis residents are linked to cemetery thefts spanning at least nine states, including 20 cases under investigation in Florida.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida authorities are searching for three Indianapolis residents accused of traveling across the country and stealing family heirlooms and other valuables from cemetery niches containing cremated remains, a series of alleged thefts investigators say has reached at least nine states.
Arrest warrants have been issued for Drake Lee Milam, 33; his girlfriend, Porsche Bancroft, 32; and Bancroft’s mother, Angela Garrett, 52, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say the three could be extradited to Florida if arrested. Investigators are examining 20 cases in Florida and believe the number of victims could be substantially higher because some families may not yet know property is missing from their relatives’ resting places.
The sheriff’s office alleges the three traveled through the eastern half of the United States and entered cemeteries where they broke into mausoleums and niches holding cremated remains. Those spaces can also contain jewelry and other keepsakes placed there by relatives. Authorities say items taken in the suspected thefts included family heirlooms with financial or sentimental value.
Cpl. Cole Brazee of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said investigators have connected the suspects to alleged cemetery thefts in Florida and several other states. Authorities identified Oklahoma, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina and New York among the states where the group is suspected of operating. Florida and Indiana bring the geographic reach described by authorities to at least nine states.
Investigators have not released a complete list of cemeteries involved, a detailed chronology of the alleged thefts or the specific criminal charges contained in each warrant. Authorities also have not publicly disclosed evidence showing how investigators linked every reported theft to the three suspects. The allegations remain accusations, and no court has determined the suspects’ guilt.
The case drew attention because some of the missing property may have remained unnoticed for long periods. Unlike thefts from homes or businesses, property kept inside a cemetery niche may not be checked regularly. Brazee said investigators believe people in other jurisdictions could have been affected without realizing that belongings placed with a deceased relative were gone.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has described the alleged targets as niches containing cremated remains, where relatives sometimes leave rings, jewelry and other keepsakes. In one statement, the agency gave the example of a surviving spouse placing wedding rings in a niche, only to later learn the jewelry had been taken. The sheriff’s office has emphasized the emotional harm such thefts can cause in addition to the loss of valuable property.
The investigation has expanded beyond a single local burglary case because of the number of states authorities say are involved. Florida investigators have said the suspects are from the Indianapolis area, while the alleged thefts stretch from the South and Midwest to New York. Authorities have not said publicly how long they believe the suspected travel pattern continued or whether additional people are under investigation.
Central Florida Crimeline is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest. As of Aug. 15, authorities had announced warrants for Milam, Bancroft and Garrett, but no arrest had been reported in the material reviewed for this story. The investigation remains active as officials work to identify possible additional cases and victims.
Author note: Last updated August 15, 2026.