Travis Roy Anderson sentenced over stealing baby’s ashes, $20k jewellery

A rampant burglar who broke into a couple’s home and stole their baby’s ashes also pulled off a $20k jewellery heist and a pub theft during his crime spree, it has been revealed.

Travis Roy Anderson was sentenced in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on August 30.

A rampant Rockhampton burglar is behind bars after his destructive crime spree, which included stealing a precious urn containing a baby boy’s ashes.

Travis Roy Anderson, 32, appeared in custody in Rockhampton Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to 12 charges including three counts of entering dwelling and commit indictable offence, one count of entering premises and commit indictable offence, two counts of trespass, unlawful use of motor vehicle, possessing dangerous drugs and obstructing police.

The court heard that on the afternoon of June 28, Anderson got into a home on Edward Street, North Rockhampton, and “ransacked” it.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said Anderson pulled clothes and personal items out of cupboards and drawers “in every bedroom” and discarded them on the floor.

While in the home, he ate “a number of food items” and left water running in a sink.

“During his search (of the house) he located and stole numerous jewellery items to the value of $20,000,” Mr Fox said.

Anderson left the house wearing some of the victim’s clothes.

In another break-in on July 15, Anderson got into Natasha Tacon and Braeden Carolan’s Berserker home, North Rockhampton, and stole numerous items, including an urn which contained their baby boy’s ashes which was later recovered.

Natasha Tacon and Braeden Carolan holding their baby boy's urn. Picture: Aden Stokes.

Other items stolen were reading glasses, a bracelet, two airpods, $200 cash, car keys, prescription medication, clothing and commemorative medals.

Mr Fox said the urn theft in particular caused the victims significant distress.

The court was told on another occasion, Anderson entered a downstairs area of a Gracemere residence and stole a bicycle.

Another crime involved him entering a staffroom at the Park Avenue Hotel and stealing a female employee’s handbag which contained her car keys.

Anderson then drove off in her Kia Sportage.

Also in July, Anderson trespassed at a rail corridor in the Port Curtis area, used by Aurizon to transport coal.

He also trespassed at Gracemere Sports Club where he was disturbed by a groundskeeper.

He was asked to leave but he refused.

Mr Fox said Anderson was still at the sports club when police arrived.

He initially gave police a false name when asked who he was, before eventually admitting his correct name.

Mr Fox said when police asked Anderson why he was there, he said “men with sonic weapons” were chasing him.

Travis Roy Anderson.

The court heard in late July, Anderson was wanted on a warrant when police found him at a Berserker unit in North Rockhampton owned by the Department of Housing.

Officers found him hiding in a roof cavity.

“A police officer told him he was under arrest and demanded that he come down from the ceiling and he didn’t comply,” Mr Fox said.

“Police entered the roof cavity... and were able to remove him... and take him to the watchhouse.”

The court heard Anderson had a substantial criminal history, which included 14 previous enter premises offences and five previous unlawful use of motor vehicle offences, as well as robbery and attempted robbery offences.

Solicitor Ashley Reynolds said Anderson, a father of three, had grown up in Rockhampton and was schooled to Year 8.

“Unfortunately he became involved in crime at a young age, and he instructs me he has been using cannabis since he was 14, and methamphetamine since he was 18,” Ms Reynolds said.

“He had been receiving significant periods of imprisonment for some time since he was 18, and has spent a large majority of his life in custody.”

Ms Reynolds said while in custody, Anderson had completed courses including one for drugs and alcohol.

During sentencing on August 30, Magistrate Cameron Press noted that Anderson had “many convictions” for property offending.

Specifically in relation to the urn theft, Mr Press said it may have been the case that Anderson did not know it contained a child’s ashes.

Anderson himself immediately replied via video link from custody: “I didn’t.”

Mr Press sentenced Anderson to two years and nine months’ jail, declared 40 days’ pre-sentence custody as time already served, and fixed parole release at June 21, 2025.

Originally published as Travis Roy Anderson sentenced over stealing baby’s ashes, $20k jewellery