Taking from the dead: Woman charged with cemetery thefts

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July 19, 2012

Taking from the dead: Woman charged with cemetery thefts

By Nita Johnson Staff Writer The Sentinel-Echo Thu Jul 19, 2012, 02:43 PM EDT

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Wind chimes, ceramic statues, plaques and other items missing from graves in area cemeteries netted a charge of receiving stolen property against a Laurel woman.

Rosemary H. McDaniel, 45, of 1010 Sinking Creek Road in London, was arrested Saturday following an investigation into some missing items and reports of a red car similar to McDaniel’s spotted at a cemetery.

A press release from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office stated Deputy Robbie Grimes and Senior Sgt. Greg Poynter began the investigation when they received a call concerning thefts from an area cemetery.

A couple who lives near a cemetery came home to find several small statues that had been sitting on their porch were broken in their driveway. When they began looking around the cemetery, they discovered several items that had previously been on grave sites were missing.

After calling other family members to check if the items had been taken by them, the couple learned their brother’s ex-girlfriend had been looking for them. With that information in mind, the victim drove to her brother’s home and noticed a red car belonging to the brother’s ex-girlfriend backed up to a grave site in a cemetery.

Laurel Sheriff’s Lieutenant Rodney Van Zant said Potter’s Cemetery on Helvetia Road was one cemetery where items had been taken but he was unsure of others that may have fallen victim to McDaniel. Other cemeteries where items could have been taken included Swiss Colony, Vaughn Ridge, Bustle and Freedom.

McDaniel was located at her residence on Sinking Creek Road, and told police she was taking the items to clean and refurbish them. She said she intended to return the items at a later date. However, deputies found the items stolen from the victim’s home as well as other items of sentiment that had been placed on grave sites. McDaniel was charged with receiving stolen property and taken to Laurel Detention Center.

Assisting at the scene was Lieutenant Rodney Van Zant and Deputy Greg Turner.

njohnson@sentinel-echo.com

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