NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A Bronx woman was sentenced to prison Monday for burglarizing multiple Westchester County homes while the residents were attending funeral services.
Latonia Stewart, 30, was found guilty of six counts of burglary in the second degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree in October.
On Monday, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for each of the burglary counts, to run concurrently. She was also given one to three years in prison to run consecutive to the 10-year sentence.
Prosecutors said that between December 2017 and May 2018, Stewart burglarized six homes while the owners were attending their spouse's wake or funeral service.
Stewart found the victims in Cortlandt, Greenburgh, Ossining, Rye Brook, Scarsdale and Tarrytown by searching through obituaries online, according to Westchester District Attorney Miriam Rocah.
"Latonia Stewart targeted individuals on one of the worst days of their lives knowing they wouldn't be home, and stole their jewelry, valuables, letters and other keepsakes a spouse would cherish while grieving their loved one," DA Rocah said. "This coldhearted crime is reprehensible."
In every burglary, Stewart used a sledgehammer to break into the homes and cause further damage inside. She then swiped a number of valuables, including jewelry, watches and silverware.
Stewart was arrested in May 2018, when police officers witnessed her driving away from the home of a deceased person with jewelry in her vehicle and with an obituary pulled up on her cellphone.
After her arrest, officers uncovered even more stolen items and burglar's tools in her car and at her Bronx home.
