Warrants: Woman stole more than 100 vases from Cumberland County cemeteries

A Lee County woman is charged with a bizarre and troubling crime.

Savannah Bourgeois is accused of stealing at least 100 vases from graves at two Cumberland County cemeteries and selling the metal to a scrapyard.

Authorities in Cumberland County said the tranquility and peacefulness of two cemeteries have been violated by a thief.

Arrest warrants show the 21-year-old Bourgeois has been charged with stealing grave markers and vases from Cumberland Memorial Gardens on Raeford Road and Rockfish Memorial Park on Gillespie Street.

The thefts happened in June of last year. Family members told employees at the cemeteries that vases made of copper brass and bronze were missing.

According to court records, Bourgeois sold more than five dozen vases, worth about $34,000, to a local metal scrapyard for just over $600.

Bourgeois was arrested last month in Lee County on unrelated charges. She was booked in Cumberland County on several charges, including felony larceny and obtaining property under false pretenses.

Although these thefts happened in 2023, the families who put the vases out expected them to hold flowers for an eternity.

Authorities said they were able to identify her from video captured when she was selling the vases at the scrapyard. Bourgeois will be back in court on July 17.