Cape Cod 'Obit Bandit' Robbed Mourning Widows' Homes: Cops

BARNSTABLE, MA — Cape Cod police said a Plymouth man committed one of the most heartless crimes imaginable — robbing the homes of grieving widows attending funerals for their husbands. Randy Brunelle, 35, was arrested Friday and charged with multiple counts of breaking and entering and larceny related to at least three robberies in Barnstable and Plymouth since September. Police said the "obit bandit" is suspected of more robberies in the aforementioned towns — plus Mashpee.

Brunelle allegedly scanned obituaries for funeral dates and targeted the homes of deceased individuals and widows during memorial services. In 2012, he was convicted of a similar crime when he broke into the Plymouth home of a Sandwich police officer's mother during her funeral. Brunelle served 18 months in prison in that case.

Barnstable police arrested Brunelle Friday night during a sting after they received a report of his presence on the Cape.

"Detectives then spotted Brunelle’s gray Honda Civic in Cotuit and began to follow it, while other detectives fanned out to possible locations of relatives attending funeral services in the Barnstable area," Barnstable police said in a statement. "Detectives quickly discovered a house break at an address in Cotuit and Brunelle’s vehicle was subsequently pulled over by detectives in Plymouth as he was headed to his home. After conducting the motor vehicle stop, Barnstable Detectives located jewelry in Brunelle’s sweat shirt pockets."

Police said he broke into the home of a recently deceased Barnstable woman during her wake and stole the jewelry.

Brunelle was charged with three counts of breaking and entering and one count of larceny. He was released after a relative posted his $5,000 bail, police said. He will be arraigned Monday at Barnstable District Court.

Barnstable police said anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Brunelle should email Detective Lieutenant Mark Mellyn at mellynm@barnstablepolice.com.

Photo: Randy Brunell's mugshot following his arrest in Barnstable February 9, 2018, after police said he broke into the home of a recently deceased Barnstable woman during her wake. (Credit: Barnstable Police Department)