Police Capture Man Who Allegedly Stole Officer’s Ashes From Widow’s Home
Police in Polk County, Florida, arrested a man who allegedly broke into the home of a police officer’s widow and stole the urn that held her deceased husband’s ashes.
Daniel Antonio Nolasco Cardona, 27, was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly broke into the widow's home and several others, as reported by local news station WFTS. Police returned the ashes of former Lakeland Police Department Officer Curtis "Buddy" Newsome to his wife, Michele Newsome.
"It was a loss all over again," said Michele Newsome, according to WFTS. "I lost him to cancer, and now I lost him to an intruder."
Cardona was charged with 19 counts, including grand theft, criminal mischief, unarmed burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and destroying and/or removing a tomb or monument, according to public records.
Cardona was from Honduras and in the U.S. on a tourist visa. The Polk County Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and nine other agencies throughout the state arrested the man, according to Orlando Sentinel.
Cardona's burglaries were spread throughout different counties, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who spoke Wednesday at a news conference, reported the Sentinel. The sheriff also said there could be other suspects and additional charges.
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Judd said he lived in the same area as Buddy Newsome growing up and called the deceased police officer a "wonderful man."
"I've been in this business my entire adult life. This is one of the more special events. We deliver so much bad news from this podium. It's exciting to be able to deliver some good news," said Judd, referring to the recovery of the urn, reported the Sentinel.