The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Wisconsin man was arrested after being accused of stealing six pricey, historic gravestone markers from a cemetery and selling them online for profit.
On May 12, one of the groundskeepers at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Fox Crossing called the authorities to report that he had discovered six cross-shaped gravestone markers, each approximately 150 years old, were missing from the grounds. The Fox Crossing Police Department began investigating the situation, which would ultimately lead to a months-long theft investigation.
According to reports, an online search revealed that all six of the four-foot-tall crosses had been listed for sale on multiple sites, and the same name was used for each account that listed them. The buyers were tracked down in different locations in Wisconsin, such as Lamartine, Kewaunee, and Waupun, and one was found in Illinois. When the authorities talked to them, more than one of the purchasers provided information leading them back to the individual whose name was listed on the online accounts. The buyers also reported that they each picked up their purchases in Oakland. The authorities reported that they were able to track the suspect’s phone signal to an area near the cemetery on May 9.
When the police talked to the suspect about the crosses, each with an estimated value between $10,000 and $15,000, they told him they believed he was in the area when they were taken. The man told them his vehicle was parked at his home all day, and he was in a city approximately 45 minutes away.
The man was taken into custody and booked into the Winnebago County Jail. The police department wants him to face charges for six felony counts of theft, and he is currently charged with one count of theft of a moveable property with a value between $10,000 and $100,000. All six crosses were recovered, and they are expected to be returned to the cemetery as soon as possible.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.