Cops: Man Stole Video Games From Boy’s Casket
- Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:50am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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There might be an extra ring in Dante’s Inferno for this guy.
A 37-year-old Pennsylvania man has been charged with desecrating a casket after he reportedly stole a handheld video game system from a deceased high schooler’s casket.
Jody Lynn Bennett was arrested in Hillsdale, PA after family members of 17-year-old Bradley McCombs — who died on Christmas in a car accident — noticed that two video game systems and three games from McCombs’s casket had gone missing. The uncle suspected Bennett and approached him.
From the Tribune-Democrat:
The boy’s uncle, Robert McCombs Jr., approached Bennett after Bennett got in his vehicle and was about to drive away.
He asked Bennett about a missing Game Boy.
“The defendant told the uncle that he did not have the Game Boy,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.
“The uncle then told the defendant that he could see the Game Boy inside the vehicle. The defendant then produced the Game Boy and returned it to the uncle.”
As that video system was being returned to the casket, family members noticed that a Game Boy Light and three games were missing.
Bennett is now facing a slew of charges, including misdemeanor counts of desecration, theft or sale of venerated objects; abuse of a corpse; institutional vandalism; theft; receiving stolen property; disorderly conduct and harassment.
His aunt, who said the family is thoroughly embarrassed, put it best: “He’s just messed up.”
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Comments (64)
Ray from Maple
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:52pmFor crying out loud! It’s not like the kid was going to use it.
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 1:06pmYou poor heartless, soulless excuse of a human being. You’ve missed the point entirely.
I suppose stripping the corpse of its’ clothes and shoes would be acceptable to you to. He stole from a grieving family as well.
Report Post »taskmaster78
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 1:14pmI wonder who he voted for? if you follow the logic of Barney Frank and the position of the death tax he didn’t need it where he was going. Is that the position that your taking? I would suspect you have stuff around the house that you don’t use, and if someone took them you’d be ok with it. The kid is dead, and his parents wishes he‘d be buried with the last gifts he’d received from them. “crying out loud!”
Report Post »timej31
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:47pmWhat do you expect? Union members and democrats don’t change their strips just because they attend someones wake.
Report Post »cwolf
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:34pmWhy would anyone want to be burred with their video game system anyway? Is that what he loved most in life or something?
Report Post »emmanuel Goldstein
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:15pmSo are they afraid their kid won’t get to play video games in the next world?
Report Post »Zombie gamers!!!
dontbotherme
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 12:05amEmmanuel – seriously? Their son died & you’re mocking the family? Where is your anger towards the thief? Where is your heart?
Report Post »pandora
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:44amWho cares about the DS anyway? I’m just very sad that a high school kid was killed on Christmas. How very tragic for the boy and for his family who will always remember Christmas as the day they lost their child. That is a more important story.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:29amThe guy is obviously “Stoo Tupid”!
Report Post »missmarie
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:24amHorrible! Simply horrible!
Report Post »Joseff
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:15amThings done at funerals, like leaving prized possessions in the casket, playing certain music, etc… are done for the comfort of the survivors. The deceased is not going to miss the gameboy, but it comforts the grieving. The crime of theft here is compounded by the insult to the family. There are no excuses, no motives to consider that can make this thief any less of a scumbag.
Joe
Report Post »White Devil
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:14amThis is sad all the way around. Instead of burying the boy holding a photo of his family, he was so addicted to video games they had to try to send them with him into the after life? Grief can do strange things to people and I wouldn’t begrudge them doing it, but it is a bit sad. What is worse is this POS uncle who should be forever shamed by this family.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 12:00amWhite Devil – The Uncle was not the criminal… he caught the criminal.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:12amWell I guess it takes all kinds. But then again I can‘t see putting a game in the boy’s casket in the first place. But that’s just me. My son loved to play those games and wanted me to play them with him. I could never get into the gaming part of it. But I would have never thought to put one in the casket with him.
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:57amHow do you know what you would have thought of, had you lost a young son in a crash on Christmas? It pleased them to do this. They deserve not to be judged.
Report Post »ARMOR BEARER 147
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:11amAre they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord. Jer 6:15 —-[-
Report Post »cranberry
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:00amHe probably isn’t addicted to the games, he was going to pawn them i bet.. So glad I’m not
Report Post »related to something like that. Feel sorry for the aunt, she sounds normal.
El Paco
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:57amI love the Dante’s Inferno reference. Props to Jonathon!!!
Report Post »Errol79
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:52amShame is underutilized emotion currently in our society. God for the Aunt.
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:49amThis is a theft from the surviving, grieving family and as bad as it is I think it’s worse stealing from the living. Either way I have no use for a thief….
Report Post »Disabledvet
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:48amRedistribution, it will be part of Obamas new laws, nobody can be buried with anything of worth, it must be given to someone on welfare. Hey it‘s only fair after all the dead won’t need it any more.
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:51amHey, you could be right about that. Good Lord, look what’s coming!
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:47amThere‘s obviously something else going on in this family that isn’t quite right.
Why would they bring such a personal thing to the media? You’ve got to wonder about that. They could have settled this privately.
May Bradley McCombs rest in peace.
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:11pmAre you assuming the thief was a family member?
Report Post »It doesn’t allude to any such thing in the article. The boys uncle confronted dispicable thug and got one item back, then realizing there was more involved, he probably figured involving the police would be the best way to handle the situation from there on.
the_ancient
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:43amWhile the theft of anyone personal property is wrong and this guy should be punished I find it equally appaling that the family was selfish enough to bury the person property in the first place.
Donate it to charity, sell it, or give it to another family member to enjoy, but do not bury it. If your going to talk about hell and sin this kind of materialism and greed (if I cant have it no one will) is a sin in and of itself.
That being said, it is their property and they have the right to do stupid things with it.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:20pmThe point is the comfort of the family or survivors, not the corpse.
The burial of personal property with the dead owner goes back to before the ANCIENT Egyptians, and has been practiced by many, many different cultures, including Native American, Hindus, Chinese, and Mayans. And there have been those who have robbed tombs and graves all through history, too. Usually they were looked upon as the lowest of the low. And I think this fool qualified.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:49pmThe_Ancient – Their 17 year old son died on Christmas. Some of your words: “….appalling that the family was so selfish…, “…materialism & greed…”, “…they have the right to do stupid things with it.” The objects placed in the coffin are for the comfort of the family whose child died.
The coffin was not closed when the family realized the items were missing. We do not know their intent. I have lost many family members & we have placed meaningful mementos in the caskets for the viewing to bring comfort during a sad occasion. The items have always been removed before the coffin is sealed. Do you have more anger towards the family or the criminal? Am I misunderstanding your ire?
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 7:04amTaquoshi
Report Post »You say it’s for the survivors not the corpse, and then cite ancient cultures who all did it for the corpse not the survivors. Primitive people buried the dead with their property because they imagined they woiuld move on to an afterlife that was much like this life just in some other place. Modern people either believe in an afterlife that is fundamentally different, better, on a higher plane than this one, or no afterlife at all. For no people of any culture, at any time in history does it make sense to give a dead guy a videogame.
Unless the ancients were right.
Dead kid 1: Man, the afterlife is boring!
Dead kid 2: Dude, you should have brought a videogame like I did.
Dead kid 1: Yeah, but what do we do when it stops working
Dead kid 3: My brother seems like the kind of guy who might get himself killed. If only we could communicate with the world of the living and tell him to have himself buried with a case of batteries.
Rob
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:38amI have always wondered how many cemetery owners have had the caskets dug up to get the jewelry that morons bury with the dead….
Report Post »Bearfoot
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 4:58pmYou have to know it happens all the time.
The Bible helps us to understand the condition of the dead. Ecclesiastes 3:19-20
Report Post »So, it really does not matter to the dead, it only matters to the survivors and their sensibilities.
CrackerSmurf
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:31amHow do you know? Maybe, through no fault of his own he was unemployed and trying to get something for his kids? While it is just disgusting, the man could have had a good reason. Maybe. Either way its not right, there are circumstances when you cannot control yourself. On top of that isn’t like the kid could play it anymore. Not to be ignorant or rude but fact being fact.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:10amCorpse robbing, for any reason, is an abomination. Any guy that ‘wanted to get something for his kids’ with a video game theft, implies that he has enough means to own a video console and pay electricity utility bills. Give me a break. This is not a case of a man stealing a piece of bread to feed his starving infant son, don’t even try to go there.
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:21amStealing from a dead man? That is one of the lowest of the low. You have to be pretty “messsed up” to do something like this. As for people putting video games in a casket, hey, to each his own.
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:23amIf I had to stoop that low to “get something for my kids” then I didn’t raise my kids right. It wouldn’t hurt any of these spoiled rotten kids these days to learn the real meaning of Christmas. There is NO good reason!
Report Post »I rather give my kids the smallest, most simple thing I made myself with love, than to risk embarrassing them forever by committing such an evil deed.
Next time, Cracked let your brain kick in before your fingers touch the keyboard.
Paul G
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:35pmYou’re right *******…but he could have at least gone to another funeral and stole the dead guys wallet. SICK!
Report Post »GeeWhiz
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 1:57pmThere is no good reason to steal from a corpse. This isn’t like “I stole the donut because my kid was starving”.
Report Post »irritated1
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:29amJust when you think some members of the human race can’t get any lower…ouch!
Report Post »AnotherWay
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:25amMy guess if you did a brain scan of the culprit he would have a small amygdala and a larger area associated with courage and optimism.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:09am“My guess if you did a brain scan of the culprit he would have a small amygdala and a larger area associated with courage and optimism.”
ZING! :)
Report Post »ZombieMan
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:40amHah!
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:08amSeriously?! What is this world coming to? Man! Just when you think you’ve heard it all.
Report Post »Bearfoot
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 4:26pmWhen a man dies, have you seen people collect from the dead body items they could use?
Report Post »There is, really, when you think about it logically, nothing wrong with this. The dead man will not be using the valuable items in any way. The items could be given to his family, or if no family, the items can be viewed as inherited material things. Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10
Bearfoot
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 4:30pmI’m not saying I would do this due to respect for the family. The family however is not thinking logically because of their grief. I understand how it is to lose a loved one….
Report Post »KEA
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:08amAnother example of a moraless society. What is wrong with these people? Can it be fixed? I think we have got to far down the road without God as we now have three generations of clueless people who dont care about anything but themselves.
Report Post »C.C.D.
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:06pmYou are right, we are to far down the road. I like to explain it like this; the train has already left the station and has picked up maximum speed. The bridge is out one mile down the track, only it is going to take two miles for the train to stop, inevitably the train is going to crash. However there is hope because the people that are following their gut feelings, are jumping from the train. Now, there are people on the train calling you crazy, telling you, there is know way anyone could let the bridge be out, and if you jump you could get hurt. Moral of the story: Stay true to yourself, and don’t be afraid to take a few bumps and bruises. When it is all said and done, I will help dust you off, and you can help put the train back together, and we all can put the train back on the RIGHT track. The train will run smoother now because all of the dead weight will have been LEFT in the canyon.
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:16pmGreat description CCD. We’ll meet up along the siding somewhere, ready for the hard work.
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 9:59amWhat a slimeball!
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:00amagreed
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:01amMust be addicted to the things…What a loser.
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:17amThe guy is obviously stewpid…but so is putting that crap in a casket. “He jes luvved his DS so much…we thought he outta have it in heaven.” In Heaven…a DS is gonna be the last thing we need.
Personally, I’m racing T-Rexes, beeyatches! There will only be 8 slots, and the races will be held on Kauai in the Kalalau valley, just so you know.
My family played “Free Bird” at my cousins funeral, and my brother and I wanted to die ourselves. Thought we were in an episode of Trailer Park Boys. We were rednecks once again trying to run from our rednekkidness. Sometimes folks are grieved in such a way they can’t tell which way is up…none of us are immune.
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:42am@Shurmus
Placing items with people that they treasured in their burial casket/pyre has a long tradition in Western (and other) societies. Now instead of Anglo Saxon helms and swords, we bury’em with video games or football jerseys. Just the way of humans.
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 10:48am@ Ghost
I know…pretty insensitive of me…my bad. I am just really starting to resent the electronification of our kids.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:08am@Shurmus
No worries, I actually understand and sympathize with your thoughts on the electrification of the youth. Many teens have so many “game” skills and absolutely no hands on real life skills, it’s startling to think about. Come a natural disaster or worse they will be the very first casualties from their own ignorance.
My son plays video games, but not to exclusion of realities, and is a Boy Scout earning his way through the badges. Many of his peers, sadly, haven’t a clue about even basic skills.
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:29amSave the land. Cremate. Game boy in a casket paleeeeese. Tradition or not it’s stupid. Are we still so petty to think that anything in this life is worth taking with us. Then on the other hand burying video games is a good idea. I still think burning them is better.
Report Post »ZombieMan
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 11:38amI’m all for the “electronification” of our kids. Keeps me in business. :)
Report Post »LibertyGoddess
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 4:01pmThis happens way more than people want to believe. Morticians steal wedding bands and watches all the time. Watch what you put in!
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:20pmI think slimeball is too kind of a word – http://maboulette.wordpress.com
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:11pmTo Shurmus
I don’t think anyone really thinks Bobby, Billy, Joey or George are going to be playing with their Game Boys in Heaven. Including the items is simply a means of comfort for the family.
When my mother died, just before the funeral, I was informed that she had told someone that she wanted to be buried with a particular afghan I’d given her many years before. We turned that over to the funeral director along with two other items from her only surviving sibling to be included after the final goodbyes, but before they sealed the casket. No big deal.
However, I do agree that playing games or messing with BlackBerries or other electronic equipment at the wake and during the services is wrong.
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