A pair of accused Indiana grave robbers have been arrested for allegedly swiping more than a dozen bronze headstone markers from veteran burial sites — memorials that can sell for several thousands.
Terry Wood, 53, and Breanna Puentez, 25, were cuffed Friday for allegedly stealing at least 15 grave markers from six different cemeteries in La Porte County in the northwest region of the Hoosier State, the county Sheriff’s Office announced.
Officials started receiving reports last month of bronze veteran grave markers disappearing, according to the Sheriff’s Office which launched “Justice, Peace and Salute,” a multi-division operation led by Detective Jake Koch — a veteran himself.
The markers are as small as a medallion or can cover the entire headstone in the shape of a plaque — the latter costing as much as thousands of dollars.
The office expended “an extraordinary amount of effort and time” on the probe, the Sheriff’s Office said.
On Aug. 28, officials made an announcement about the morbid robberies and encouraged people to visit the burial places of veterans. The tips resulted in a breakthrough in the case the next day, the office said.
Wood and Puentez allegedly pilfered the plaques in cemeteries in Union Mills, Rolling Prairie, Carmel, Pinola, Greenwood and St. Stan’s.
In total, they are believed to have looted 15 markers and damaged a 16th, the office said.
Wood was arrested from a home in La Porte where officers found additional evidence of the crimes, authorities said.
It was not immediately known what their motive was.
The duo were charged with theft and 15 counts of cemetery mischief, according to WGN9 which first reported the arrests.
Wood was being held on $15,005 bail while Puentez was not eligible for bail for allegedly violating bond conditions in another case.
Capt. Derek Allen called the crimes “disgusting” and “unacceptable.”
“Hopefully, US Veterans, both deceased and living, can find peace and comfort with these arrests, and with that, we salute them for their service,” Allen said.
