San Diego mortuary driver pleads not guilty to burglarizing dead man’s house
A mortuary driver robbed a dead man’s home and maybe five others, San Diego police alleged Tuesday.
Sammy Williecarl Gates, 49, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to residential burglary and possession of a firearm after he was arrested for allegedly stealing bags of property from the dead man’s house just hours after he died, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Surveillance footage from outside the house shows Gates leaving the home first with two bags of suspected stolen property, then wheeling a gurney with an empty body bag back inside. When he left the house again, the bag was filled, allegedly with more stolen property.
The victim’s family reported missing belongings two days later, then followed up when they found the surveillance footage.
Detectives searched Gates' home on Sept. 9 and found the victim’s safe and firearm, which were initially reported missing, as well as early 1900s war relics, jewelry, watches, comic books and thousands of dollars in collectable coins, according to the sheriff’s office.
The gurney and body bags seen in the video were also found at Gates' house.
San Diego officials said detectives have identified at least five other possible victims, but encouraged anyone with information to call the police department at 619-660-7037 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
———
©2020 New York Daily News
Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
