Search For Police Officer's Ashes Leads Sheriff To Burglary Ring

WINTER HAVEN, FL -- The cremation remains of a decorated Lakeland Police officer are back where they belong on the widow's bedside table, and the man who took them is behind bars.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office has charged 27-year-old Daniel Cardona with burglarizing four homes in upscale neighborhoods in south Lakeland area March 28, stealing various items including a brass urn containing the ashes of retired officer Buddy Newsome.

Michelle Newsome had kept the urn next to her bed since her husband died of cancer in 2015. It never occurred to her that this might not be a safe place for her husband's remains until she came home and found her house broken into (see related story).

Polk Sheriff Grady Judd, who grew up in the same neighborhood as Newsome, promised Michelle Newsome he would do everything in his power to recover his longtime friend's ashes.

A week later, he made good on that promise.

At a press conference Wednesday, April 4, Judd looked on as his property detectives handed over the urn to Michelle Newsome.

Judd credited detectives Jeff Clark, Josh Williams and Mario Hernandez.with tirelessly running down tips and clues, finally tracking down Cardona in Miami.

"They worked literally every waking moment and they found our burglar," said Judd.

Cardona, a citizen of the Honduras, flew into Miami in February and promptly began to rent cars and commit burglaries throughout state, said Judd.

"He did 14 burglaries in 10 counties," Judd said.

When Cardona drove up to a rental car company in Miami to rent his next cars, the detectives were waiting in the parking lot for him. They not only arrested Cardona but were able to recover the urn and other stolen items from the car Cardona pulled up in.

"He made a fatal mistake," Judd said. "He came to Polk county and stole the ashes of a police officer. That was way over the edge. The detectives wouldn't give up and they wouldn't give in."

Michelle Newsome said she had her doubts of ever seeing the urn again.

"The sheriff said this was miraculous and I agree 100 percent," she said. "I can't thank them enough. There are no words."

Cardona has been transported back to Polk County and booked into the county jail on four counts of criminal mischief, four counts of burglary of a dwelling, four counts of conspiracy to commit burglary of a dwelling, four counts of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, two counts of grand theft and one count of desecrating a monument or gravestone.

He will have his first appearance in court Thursday, April 5 at 1 p.m.

Judd said the investigation is continuing.

"We know he had accomplices, and we're going to find them," he said.

Video via Polk Sheriff