Undertaker Took Cash From Dead Man's Home: BSO
Man removing body of deceased Tamarac man swiped cash: Authorities
Broward Sheriff's Office
Armando Sardina
A South Florida undertaker took more than just the body away after a Tamarac man died last week, authorities said.
Armando Sardina, a body removal worker, was arrested after he stole cash from the home of a deceased man whose body he was transporting, the Broward Sheriff's Office said Monday.
Authorities say Sardina, 56, was at the home of 53-year-old Michael Bressler, who had died of natural causes, to remove his body on Jan. 5.
As Sardina was preparing to transport Bressler's body, the deceased man's family members noticed that $327 was missing from a bank bag in the master bedroom, the BSO said.
After Sardina gave a deputy permission to search his van, the deputy found the cash between two seats, the BSO said.
Sardina apologized for the theft and was taken into custody, authorities said. He was later released on bond and it was unknown whether he has an attorney.
The company where Sardina works, Star of David Funeral Home, in North Lauderdale, referred all inquiries to their parent company, Service Corporation International.
"Theft of any kind is unacceptable and violates our company's code of conduct and ethics and won't be tolerated of our employees," SCI spokeswoman Jessica McDunn said. "As soon as we became aware of the incident we immediately worked with police in their investigation and we terminated Mr. Sardina's employment with our company."
Authorities said any other families who think they may have been victimized by Sardina should call their local law enforcement agency.
