You Can't Get the Death Penalty for Mugging a Widow, but What Should Happen to This Guy?

Mugging anyone is, of course, a horrible offense in any situation, but there's something even more detestable about mugging a widow as she visits her husband's grave.

That's what happened in Bethany, Oklahoma, with a woman who had only recently buried her husband after 60 years of marriage and had gone to his grave every day since, according to KWTV-TV.

Mrs. Herndon pictured her with her late husband. (Image via KWTV video screenshot)

When Tona Herndon went to visit her husband's grave last Thursday, she got out of her car to place flowers. That's when she said her purse was violently yanked from her shoulder. The man got away with money, her keys and other personal information.

Tona Herndon, who was identified in her husband's obituary, declined to go on camera, but her son spoke with KWTV about the incident and its impact on his mother.

"After 60 years, there's a lot of memories there. That should be a place that she should be able to go to and have peace and comfort. She'll tell you that's the closest she can get to him at this point," Greg Herndon said.

"When someone will go to that point and rob a little old lady at a fresh grave, what is it that they will not do?" Herndon continued.

Thus far, police believe they might have a lead as to the man's identity. The suspect attempted to use Mrs. Herndon's credit card at a Walmart and the store's surveillance video might have captured him on camera.

Police believe this could be the man who robbed a woman who was visiting her husband's grave. (Photo via KWTV)

Watch KWTV's report about the incident:

Amazingly, this isn't the only recent case of a grave-side robbery. A Pennsylvania man was in court this week, accused of robbing and assaulting a disabled woman while she was with her son visiting her mother's grave in Easton last month.

--

[related]