3 charged in cemetery vase theft
Two people were arrested and a warrant was issued for a third in the theft of 400 bronze vases from Green Ridge Memorial Park in July.
Shanna Brynn Fletcher, 32, of Hunker and Tyler Evans, 39, of Scottdale were arrested last week. A warrant was issued for Albert Carl Fletcher III, 31, address unknown. The three were identified as suspects after selling and attempting to sell the vases, according to court documents.
The woman’s young daughter was also allegedly used to help carry stolen vases, police said.
The vases, valued at nearly $80,000, were reported stolen July 28. Maintenance workers noticed the vases were missing and said they had seen a suspicious gray Jeep Cherokee in the area, police said.
The next day, 10 to 12 vases were found lining a cemetery path. Workers reported seeing the Jeep again, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.
Police contacted area scrap yards. Albert Fletcher allegedly attempted to sell 30 to 40 vases to Special T Metals July 29 but was turned away. Employees provided a photo of Fletcher. Marsh Auto provided information for Shanna Fletcher after she and another man attempted to sell “numerous” vases. Thomas Recycling provided information for Albert Fletcher after he and Evans allegedly sold 11 vases for $61 July 22.
Owensdale Scrap told police the Fletchers and a man matching Evans’ description sold 200 vases for $1,448.40 between July 23 and July 27.
State police said they received “numerous” calls and complaints from the outraged public about the theft.
The three are charged with two counts of theft by unlawful taking and one count each of conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, institutional vandalism, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and intentional desecration of a public monument.
Evans and Shanna Fletcher are lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $75,000 bond.
Albert Fletcher was also charged in August for allegedly charging about $930 in copper piping and wire to another man’s account at Spotto’s Hardware in Connellsville. He was charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property in that case.