Woman Steals Money Intended For Baby's Funeral

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis mother is pleading for help from the public to track down a woman who stole money that was intended for her terminally ill baby's funeral.

Margaret Tompkins' 6-month-old son, Lanny James, also known as LJ, had a stroke before he was born. Doctors said LJ will probably not survive another year, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

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"There's nothing that they can do for him -- love him while we have him and just keep him comfortable," Tompkins said. "He's everything to me."

Tompkins is on leave from her job to care for her son. Her family does not have a lot of money and is unable to pay for a funeral.

The owners of the Shell gas station at New York Street and Sherman Drive agreed to put out a donation bucket to help pay for the boy's funeral.

People have graciously been giving to help Tompkins, but a woman picked up the bucket and walked out with it on Saturday.

The woman was described as in her late 30s, tall and thin, with blond hair. She moved the bucket out of view of the cashier before leaving with it. Store owners estimated that there was up to $200 in the bucket.

"It makes me sick that somebody would take money from a dying baby's funeral," Tompkins said. "It just makes me sick."

The store's owner said she has seen the woman in the gas station before and gave her free soda because she felt sorry for her.

Indianapolis police are investigating the theft. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.