Police: Mom stole daughter's roommate's urn

LONDONDERRY, N.H. -- Police said a mother stole several items from her daughter's college roommate, including an urn, after a dispute between the two roommates.

The robbery victim says that her roommate’s mother stole her father’s ashes and tried to sell them on Craigslist. Police said that they found no sign of an ad for ashes on the website, but they did find an ad for other things that belonged to the victim that were in the mother’s possession.

Police have charged 40-year-old Patricia Shanley with eight misdemeanors in all, including theft by extortion and abuse of a corpse. Documents stated that she unlawfully concealed a corpse, or any part thereof, to wit the ashes and urn of the victim’s father.

“When you talk about someone’s deceased loved one that can really hurt somebody, which I think is shameful to do that,” said Neil Reardon, attorney.

Police said that Shanley refused to return a number of belongings to the robbery victim, a 20-year-old Keene State college student who once lived with her. Police said that Shanley ended up renting an apartment near Keene State for her own daughter and the victim. The two young women then apparently had a falling out and the victim decided not to live in the apartment anymore.

Shanley then felt that the robbery victim owed her $3,400. She held onto the urn with the ashes in it, along with other items, such as clothing, a snowboard set, a Lion King comforter and four Twilight books.

“I think that’s a personal vendetta, and it’s a little ridiculous. Irregardless of the dispute of the landlord…furniture is one thing, personal belongings, especially loved ones, is a totally separate issue,” said Kevin Landry, who believes that ashes, in general, are sacred.

Shanley told a local newspaper that she has always tried to help the victim, and treated her like her own daughter. She said that she never demanded any money and that the victim could have picked up her things from the house anytime she wanted to.

Shanley is due in court on Dec. 22.

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