WHITE PLAINS – Following a week-long jury trial in Westchester County Court, Bronx resident Latonia Stewart was convicted of burglarizing six homes of families she targeted while they were attending funerals of loved ones between 2017 and 2018.
Stewart, 30, was found guilty on October 14 of six felonies of burglary and criminal possession of stolen property.
She faces a prison sentence of from 3 ½ to 15 years on each burglary count.
Between December 2017 and May 2018, Stewart burglarized the homes of six Westchester County residents in Cortlandt, Greenburg, Ossining, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, and Tarrytown, who were away from home attending their spouse’s wake or funeral services.
Stewart targeted the homes after search through obituaries online.
Jewelry, watches, silverware and other valuables were stolen.
She used a sledge hammer to break windows and glass doors to break into the homes and causes additional damage once inside.
On May 1, 2018, Greenburgh Police arrested Stewart after observing her driving away from the home of a deceased person with jewelry in the vehicle and the website with an obituary pulled up on her cellphone.
Following her arrest, police recovered more stolen items and burglar’s tools in her car and at her home.
“It is absolutely appalling that people mourning the loss of a loved one were specifically targeted and taken advantage of in such a cruel and heinous manner,” said District Attorney Miriam Rocah.
