Authorities in Angelina County say a grim scene unfolded this week after a Lufkin woman allegedly dug up the grave of her newborn daughter at Davis Memorial Gardens, then left the burial container holding the infant’s remains in the driveway of an unoccupied house. The discovery in the Cedar Grove area triggered an investigation by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, with help from local funeral staff. Jail records identify the suspect as 33-year-old Tamisha Cheyniece Drake, who now faces a felony charge of abuse of a corpse.
Sheriff's account of the arrest
Deputies responded to a report of a disturbed gravesite and arrived to find that a newborn's grave had been unearthed. Investigators later identified Drake as the infant’s mother and arrested her on a charge of abuse of a corpse, according to FOX 26 Houston.
How deputies say they recovered the remains
During an interview with detectives, Drake allegedly admitted to digging up the grave and directed investigators to the burial container, KLTV reports. Deputies say they recovered that container, still holding the infant's remains, from the driveway of an unoccupied residence on North Avenue. Jail records show Drake was then booked into the Angelina County Jail.
Timeline and funeral-home involvement
Officials told local media the infant died following complications during childbirth, and FOX 26 Houston reported that the original burial had been arranged recently. Colonial Mortuary of Lufkin, the funeral home that handled the initial burial, assisted Lufkin police and sheriff’s deputies during the recovery, according to the sheriff’s account.
What the charge carries
Drake is charged with abuse of a corpse, an offense defined at Texas Penal Code §42.08. The statute states, "An offense under this section is a state jail felony," and state jail felonies in Texas carry prison terms of 180 days to two years and may include fines up to $10,000, according to the Texas Penal Code.
What's next in the case
Arraignment and bond settings are still pending while investigators continue to gather evidence and decide whether additional charges will be pursued. Deputies are keeping the probe open as the case moves through the Angelina County Jail and into the local court system, according to WAFB.
