Man Accused of Stealing Grave Marker Brass, Some from Vets’ Graves

QUITMAN — A Wood County man was taken into custody for allegedly stealing brass from headstone markers — many from deceased veterans. KETK reports that on April 12, detectives began investigating possible thefts of gravestone markers. Authorities had not received an official report at the time, but were tipped off that a man may have been stealing brass from two cemeteries. Detectives followed up on the leads and discovered the claims to be true, according to officials. Evidence eventually led a to Mineola man, Chad Hennessey. He was arrested on a parole warrant.

After obtaining a search warrant on April 14, authorities say they discovered brass markers, tools and drug paraphernalia at his home. Once the suspect was in custody, he admitted to stealing the headstone brass markers from New Hope Cemetery and Rockfield Cemetery, according to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. Both locations are located in rural parts of the county. The Sheriff’s Office stated Hennessey said he would take the markers back to his home and grind down the names, then try to sell the brass.

At this time, a total of 12 markers and a brass urn have been identified as stolen. Eleven belonged to veterans of different wars; one person was killed in Vietnam. Sheriff Jim Brown is asking for the public’s help identifying surviving family members of the veterans’ grave markers. Anyone with information should contact Sgt. Jacob Richardson or Captain Miles Tucker at 903-763-2201.