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Two men from Maryland have been arrested for their roles in a theft scheme targeting a Waldorf cemetery. The duo, arrested earlier this month, is accused of stealing more than 100 bronze memorial vases from Trinity Memorial Gardens.
Charles County Sheriff's Office detectives said the two men targeted the cemetery on separate occasions between June 8 and June 21 and between July 4 and July 6.
Investigators in the area saw a suspicious van near the cemetery on July 8. They searched the area and found garbage cans filled with bronze vases nearby.
Evidence recovered at the scene allowed detectives to identify two men connected to the van and the vase thefts, officials said.
Authorities arrested Trey Franklin Mason, 25, of Waldorf, on July 8. A second suspect, David Anthony Downing, 34, of Waldorf, was arrested on July 16.
"Through additional investigative work, detectives determined that up to 100 vases stolen during the first time period had been transported to a scrap metal recycling facility in another jurisdiction," the sheriff's office said in a press release. "Detectives responded to the facility and successfully recovered the vases, which had not yet been processed or melted down. The total value of the recovered vases is estimated to be over $100,000."
The sheriff's office said that stealing or attempting to sell cemetery bronze items constitutes criminal theft. Additionally, Maryland law prohibits scrap metal dealers from purchasing or accepting cemetery bronze items, including memorial vases, markers and plaques. The sheriff's office says an investigation into the scrap dealer remains active and ongoing.
Mason and Downing were charged with theft scheme, destruction of property, fraud and other related charges. They are both being held without bond.
Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Detective K. Dunn at 301-609-6571. Anonymous tips can be submitted via Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.
