Woman steals money meant for terminally ill babys funeral

**Whisper** · September 19th, 2009, 01:40 AM

Donations for a terminally ill baby were stolen in Indianapolis, Indiana. This indeed is a sad commentary on our culture.The mother of the terminally ill little one could not afford a funeral. A donation Jar was set up at a gas station. The Jar however was stolen and it was caught on a surveillance camera.

“There’s nothing that they can do for him — love him while we have him and just keep him comfortable,” Tompkins said. “He’s everything to me.”Tompkins is on leave from her job to care for her son.

The owners of the Shell gas station at New York Street and Sherman Drive agreed to put out a donation bucket to help pay for the boy’s funeral.People have graciously been giving to help Tompkins, but a woman picked up the bucket and walked out with it on Saturday.

The woman was described as in her late 30s, tall and thin, with blond hair. She moved the bucket out of view of the cashier before leaving with it. Store owners estimated that there was up to $200 in the bucket.”It makes me sick that somebody would take money from a dying baby’s funeral,” Tompkins said. “It just makes me sick.”

A significant way to accomplish a lower cost funeral is to take donations.

http://lowercostfuneral.com/rbrianblog/

http://www.theindychannel.com/slides...25/detail.html

**dawnmpeters** · September 19th, 2009, 02:30 AM

That is just disgusting!Does she have a place online where people can donate?I don't have much, but I know every little bit helps.

**Awhell** · September 19th, 2009, 02:37 AM

If you read the article linked above, the replacement jar was stolen on 9-13 and this time they got away with $100. bastards.
I hope they all get buried in fridge boxes.

**sheevaa** · September 19th, 2009, 04:41 AM

I don't care how hard up you are, that's just wretched. I hope she's busted, and quick. I'll also take a bet that there was no decent reason for it. Seems like only addiction of some sort can "justify" this shit for criminals.

**GlamourNoir** · September 19th, 2009, 06:38 AM

I'm just speechless. I'm with Dawn, I'd really like to help out. If someone finds donation info could you PM me, please?

**carolinablue** · September 19th, 2009, 07:54 AM

i know that somewhere in that area there has to be a funeral home that could do a simple funeral pro bono. if not out of generosity, then surely the pr alone would make it worthwhile. i hope that thieving bitch is caught and pelted with dead fish on her way to jail. and has her face plastered on a billboard with the caption "stole from a dying baby".

**Whisper** · September 19th, 2009, 12:42 PM

Yeah Id like to send a few bucks also.I have to run to vets with kittens but when Im back Ill check into it see what I can find.Even a addy to newspaper maybe the reporter b/c I had a hell of a time lastnight getting this little bit of story.Kept getting the title then that was it and I googled 8-10 diff ones before I could finally get something.But I will look later

**Chaindrive** · September 19th, 2009, 12:46 PM

This just sucks.

Do we have to chain EVERYTHING down???

**cubby** · September 19th, 2009, 12:55 PM

We would have to remove cash money from our donation jars every day so if it got stolen the loss would be minimal. They'll take change too but not as quickly as they don't wanna have to deal with change and it can get heavy. My experience is some people will steal the pennies from their dead granny's eyes. You can't really trust anybody anymore.

**Whisper** · September 19th, 2009, 05:32 PM

I emailed the Indy Station that ran the story ,may not hear back until monday but Ill try and get a addy.I have cans in pet stores for my rescue along with at least 8 others on the counter and we have been lucky I guess b/c we havent had this happen yet.But this is even lower then stealing from cats/kittens/dogs.A terminally ill baby??? Makes it 100xs worse

**Whisper** · September 19th, 2009, 05:36 PM

I remembered it happened around here but not in Canada but across from me In Munroe(Where Nevaeh was killed) heres the lonk some have no class whatsoever http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs....EWS01/74033797

**thequeenofsorrow** · September 19th, 2009, 07:54 PM

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis mother is pleading for help from the public to track down a woman who stole money that was intended for her terminally ill baby's funeral.

Margaret Tompkins' 6-month-old son, Lanny James, also known as LJ, had a stroke before he was born. Doctors said LJ will probably not survive another year, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

The store's owner said she has seen the woman in the gas station before and gave her free soda because she felt sorry for her.

Indianapolis police are investigating the theft. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/20788218/detail.html

**Whisper** · September 19th, 2009, 08:12 PM

<<< Lanny James

**Whisper** · September 19th, 2009, 08:16 PM

You know what gets me is his eyes open.We lost a baby when he was 5 months old and they seem like nothings wrong with them when the eyes are open.Or maybe its just me but to even look at baby Lanny you would think he looked like a healthy baby boy b/c his eyes look bright but he dies look awfully pale

**thequeenofsorrow** · October 7th, 2009, 09:23 AM

INDIANAPOLIS -- A woman has been arrested in the theft of a donation jar intended to be used for a terminally ill child's funeral.

Indianapolis police said Tuesday that Sarah Bledsoe, 35, of Indianapolis, was arrested on Sept. 30.

Last month, a collection jar was taken from the Shell gas station at New York Street and Sherman Drive. The $200 in that jar was to be used for funeral expenses for Lanny James, or L.J., a 6-month-old boy who doctors say will likely not survive another year after he suffered a stroke before birth.

The boy's mother, Margaret Tompkins, pleaded for information in the case and received an outpouring of support from the community that more than replaced the money that was lost after a story on TheIndyChannel.com was linked from cnn.com.

"I would never have imagined my little guy would be in so many hearts and prayers," Tompkins said last month. "I was just collecting change just to help out."

Investigators used information gleaned from surveillance video at the Shell gas station and New York Street and Sherman Drive, along with tips from the public through Crime Stoppers to make the arrest.

A search of Bledsoe's home led to evidence in the theft and ultimately led to the arrest, Detective Bryce Adams said.

Bledsoe had not posted bond as of Tuesday and remained in custody on charges of theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. An initial hearing was set for Thursday morning.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/21218434/detail.html

**carolinablue** · October 7th, 2009, 10:20 AM

is there an account at a local bank for contributions? i'm not well off but i will help Lanny's parents as much as i can. i don't think donations to a bank account can be stolen easily. damn thieving junkie bitch.

**skeptik** · October 7th, 2009, 10:23 AM

Shame on that fugly whore.

**SickenEd** · October 7th, 2009, 10:24 AM

People like this are amongst the lowest of the low IMO. No better than a child abuser. To steal from a family who is going through the worst imaginable hell is down right evil.

I pray for this poor family, and this precious baby boy. May God bless each of you and wrap you in a blanket of peace and strength.

**Nell** · October 7th, 2009, 06:16 PM

When my brother died my real mother held a fund raiser at her Elks Lodge for him. She knew my dad and stepmom (whose child this was) couldn't afford the funeral. She raised over 900 bucks and handed it to my stepmom. She turned around and blew it on nothing. My grandmother had to end up paying the funeral home, and 5 years later i finally purchased him a headstone myself because i was tired of thinking of my brother in an unmarked grave.

Consequently I think this is the lowest of crimes. Stealing from a dying babies funeral fund. She should be caned.