A Texas woman has been arrested in her bathrobe just weeks after she was allegedly caught stealing valuables from a cemetery mausoleum with her toddler by her side.
Renee Amber Fennell, 37, of Conroe, is accused of burglarizing the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home earlier this month, snatching several keepsakes, including three gold Mahjong pieces, a rosary and a silver cross, according to KHOU 11 News.
In shocking surveillance footage of the crime, Fennell is seen entering the funeral home alongside her toddler, who wandered around as she allegedly stole valuables from the dead.
She was handcuffed and taken into custody Wednesday night, with video showing two officers guiding her to the female intake unit as she walked barefoot dressed in a white bathrobe.
The mother was slapped with two felony charges of burglary and theft from a graveyard, according to the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable Terry Allbritton's Office.
Meanwhile, her young daughter was turned over to a family member and remains in their custody.
Fennell's arrest came after what authorities described as a 'lengthy and thorough' investigation conducted by detectives, deputies and Precinct 5's elite Special Response Unit (SRU).
On June 15, authorities received a call from Memorial Oaks Funeral Home along the Katy Freeway in Houston regarding a theft that allegedly unfolded inside the facility on June 6, according to charging documents obtained by KHOU.
Renee Amber Fennell, 37, of Texas, is accused of burglarizing a cemetery mausoleum in Houston earlier this month with her toddler by her side
She was arrested Wednesday night, with video showing two officers guiding her to the female intake unit as she walked barefoot dressed in a white bathrobe
The manager told investigators he discovered that two glass-fronted display cases inside the enclosed mausoleum had been broken into, where cremated remains and meaningful belongings are kept.
A security guard mistakenly forgot to lock the doors that night, allowing Fennell to sneak in after it had closed to the public, according to the arrest affidavit.
Family members of the deceased came forward with descriptions of what had been taken, with one man reporting that three gold Mahjong pieces had been removed from a 13-piece set in his father's memorial.
He said the set was valued at roughly $3,700 before the theft, but the remaining pieces no longer held the same value because the collection was no longer complete, according to court documents obtained by Click 2 Houston News.
In a second locked niche, a separate relative reported that a $150 silver James Avery cross was missing - a cherished piece of jewelry worn by the deceased at the time of death.
That same family member also reported that an aquamarine rosary valued at $20 had been stolen.
Police uncovered surveillance footage that allegedly showed Fennell arriving at the funeral home in a silver SUV before heading toward the doors with her toddler, who is believed to be between three and five years old.
On June 17, authorities released the video of what unfolded inside the mausoleum to social media in hopes of identifying the suspect, according to the affidavit.
Fennell is accused of snatching several keepsakes, including three gold Mahjong pieces, a rosary and a silver cross, from the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home
In surveillance footage from June 6, a smiling Fennell is allegedly seen walking into the mausoleum with her barefoot daughter in tow
In the damning footage, a smiling Fennell is allegedly seen walking into the mausoleum with her barefoot daughter in tow.
The next clip allegedly captured the mother on her knees, using unidentified tools to pry open the locked glass casings and swipe the items inside.
Another angle allegedly showed Fennell reaching a higher glass enclosure and attempting to open it, while her toddler remained at her feet playing with an item in her lap, unaware of the alleged theft.
After the footage was shared, a tipster came forward and provided a name of who they believed was the perpetrator, according to court documents.
That tip, along with a combination of law enforcement records and an intense database search, led investigators to pinpoint Fennell as their official suspect.
Court documents said that authorities linked the mother to a silver Lincoln MKC, which matched the visible damage that was also seen on the car captured in the surveillance footage.
License plate reader data also placed Fennell’s SUV in the Houston area the very same day of the break-in, according to the affidavit.
The investigation also revealed that a visitor in early May told deputies they noticed some items missing from a display case, though it remains unclear whether the incidents are connected or how Fennell gained access.
The footage allegedly captured the mother on her knees, using unidentified tools to pry open the locked glass casings and swipe the items inside
Authorities released a photo showing Fennell wrapped in a bathrobe while standing alongside an officer following her detainment
Constable Terry Allbritton announced Wednesday night that Fennell had been arrested at her home in the 16700 block of North Thrasher Street following a tireless investigation to locate her and 'peacefully take her into custody.'
Video taken of her arrest showed Fennell’s head down as she headed into the intake unit, with a separate photo showing her wrapped in a bathrobe while standing alongside an officer.
According to authorities, she is no stranger to run-ins with the police and has a lengthy criminal record in Harris County under her belt.
Her prior arrests include forgery, theft, possession of a controlled substance, driving while intoxicated and assault.
Fennell has since been turned over to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for questioning involving a number of crimes allegedly committed in their jurisdiction, according to police.
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