Couple Stole Dozens of Funeral Urns in June 2026
The suspects allegedly sold the stolen items as scrap metal in North Portland to fund drug purchases.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Property Crime
Portlanders mourning at Wilhelm's Memorial Funeral Home were affected by the theft of approximately 60 urns and 16 copper plates from the facility's Daisy Room in June 2026. Police subsequently charged Timothy James Newbury and Sierra Kennedy with abuse of a memorial to the dead.
Why it matters
The case highlights the vulnerability of local memorial sites to thefts motivated by the illicit drug trade. The incident left many families without the remains of their loved ones and forced a reevaluation of security at the funeral home.
Approximately 60 urns and 16 copper plates were reported missing from the mausoleum. While police recovered some items during a June search, the status of the remaining stolen property is unknown.
The players
Timothy James Newbury
The 50-year-old suspect is currently in custody at the Multnomah County Jail.
Sierra Kennedy
She faces a charge for abuse of a memorial to the dead and is the subject of an active arrest warrant.
Wilhelm's Memorial Funeral Home
The site of the thefts where 60 niches were targeted by the suspects.
The details
According to police, the suspects gained access to the mausoleum by posing as visitors to a specific grave site. They allegedly scrapped the stolen urns and plates at locations in North Portland to generate cash. Timothy James Newbury is currently held at the Multnomah County Jail while a warrant remains active for the arrest of Sierra Kennedy.
Timeline
Late May 2026: Security personnel observed the suspects inside the mausoleum.
June 2026: Police began an investigation and served a search warrant.
August 11, 2026: An arrest warrant was issued for Sierra Kennedy.
September 3, 2026: Police arrested Timothy James Newbury.
September 4, 2026: Timothy James Newbury was arraigned.
Beyond the Bridges
This case follows a pattern of property crimes in the city driven by the local drug trade, extending the criminal history of Timothy James Newbury beyond his 2015 heroin possession conviction. The incident highlights the severe community impact when illicit activity intersects with sensitive public and private memorials.
Families with loved ones interred at the facility are encouraged to contact the funeral home regarding the status of memorial niches. Residents should remain alert to suspicious activity at cemetery and memorial grounds.
The takeaway
The desecration of local memorials is a sobering reminder of the community impacts caused by the drug trade. Interested parties should watch for the outcome of the final resolution conference hearing for Timothy James Newbury.
What happens next
Timothy James Newbury is scheduled for a final resolution conference hearing on Friday morning.
Further reading
For more information on local trends, visit the Property Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KATU.
