A lady accused of breaking into properties in Greenwich and close by Westchester County, N.Y., whereas households had been attending funerals, has been discovered responsible by a jury in White Plains.
Latonia Stewart, 30, of the Bronx, was discovered responsible of six counts of housebreaking and felony possession of stolen, each felonies, after a week-long trial ending Thursday, the Westchester County District Legal professional’s Workplace introduced Friday.
Authorities mentioned Stewart regarded up demise notices on-line and focused properties of people she believed wouldn’t be house as a result of they had been at memorial companies. Greenwich police charged her in late 2019 with larceny and housebreaking, alleging the so-called “obit burglar” had damaged into a house in Greenwich. City police mentioned she was was accused of stealing private belongings price greater than $20,000 from a house within the west finish of Greenwich in October 2017.
The Greenwich case continues to be pending, in response to the state judicial web site.
In line with the Westchester D.A.’s workplace, Greenburgh Police arrested Stewart on Could 1, 2018 “after observing her driving away from the house of a deceased particular person with jewellery within the automobile.” The D.A.’s workplace mentioned she had an internet site with an obituary pulled up on her cellphone.
In addition to Greenburgh, the D.A.’s workplace mentioned she focused residences in Cortlandt, Ossining, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, and Tarrytown.
Prosecutors in New York took the case to trial, superseding the costs in Connecticut.
In line with the D.A.’s workplace, “Stewart used a sledge hammer to interrupt home windows and glass doorways to realize entry into sure properties, and induced additional injury to the properties as soon as inside.”
“It’s completely appalling that individuals mourning the lack of a liked one had been particularly focused and brought benefit of in such a merciless and heinous method,” Westchester D.A. Mimi Rocah mentioned in an announcement. “I commend the nice work of my staff, the Greenburgh Police Division, and the opposite regulation enforcement companions who dealt with this case, and I hope that this verdict brings some measure of consolation to the victims.”
Stewart faces a sentence starting from a minimal of three and half years to a most of 15 years in a state jail on every housebreaking rely. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 22.
