Charles County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested two Waldorf men in connection with the theft of more than 100 bronze memorial vases from Trinity Memorial Gardens on Mattawoman Beantown Road.
The thefts took place in two periods: between June 8 and June 21, and between July 4 and July 6. On July 8, detectives observed a van parked on adjacent property near the cemetery during late-night hours. Canvassing the area led them to garbage cans filled with bronze vases. Evidence linked the van to two suspects.
Trey Franklin Mason, 25, of Waldorf, was arrested at a local motel on July 8. David Anthony Downing, 34, of Waldorf, was arrested on July 16.
Investigators determined that up to 100 vases from the first theft wave had been transported to a scrap metal recycling facility in another jurisdiction. Detectives recovered the vases before they could be processed or melted down. The total value of the recovered items is estimated at more than $100,000.
Maryland law prohibits stealing or attempting to sell cemetery bronze items and bans scrap metal dealers from accepting them. The investigation into the scrap dealer remains active with multiple agencies.
Mason and Downing face charges including theft scheme, destruction of property, fraud and other related offenses. They are being held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective K. Dunn at 301-609-6571. Anonymous tips eligible for a cash reward may be submitted to Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS, online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or through the P3Intel mobile app.
