Women Approach Tombstone Thinking No One’s Watching Them, Get Caught In The Act

Residents of the Grove Street Cemetery were left puzzled and outraged as flowers, vases, and cherished keepsakes vanished from grave sites.

A victim, who chose to remain anonymous, stated her deep attachment: “This cemetery is very precious to my heart. My parents are here; my grandparents are here; my great grandparents are here. I’m going to be here.”

Gone were the flowers that adorned her family’s resting place, along with a treasured flower pot. The sentimental worth of these items far surpassed their monetary value.

“I gave that flower pot to my father for Father’s Day in 1977. It has no price that they can give me to replace that pot,” she lamented.

This theft struck a personal chord. “Somebody buries their loved one and they go out to the cemetery and they put something down and they expect it to be there, and when somebody removes that theft, it’s personal,” Police Chief Mike Marko explained.

In an era where surveillance cameras are ubiquitous, the authorities benefited from modern technology.

Cemetery cameras documented a dark car entering the scene. Two women emerged, systematically removing items from graves, some of which were weighed down by bricks, before loading them into the vehicle.

“They just leisurely shopped through our cemetery taking what they wanted,” the victim recalled, incredulous at the audacity.

Video evidence played a vital role. It led the authorities to Evelyne Cantu, 61, and Donna Riley, 63, both residents of nearby Sullivan Township. Riley holds the significant position of elected fiscal officer in the township, which carries a mantle of trust.

“This incident reflects a breach of trust, like to that of a police officer. Our standards are high, and when such transgressions occur, consequences follow,” Chief Marko emphasized.

Initial cooperation gave way to pleas of not guilty on misdemeanor theft charges after the women hired attorneys.

While justice progresses, the incident serves as a reminder of the irreplaceable sentimental value tied to these graveside items. The sanctity of final resting places calls for respect, and the community finds itself grappling with the personal nature of such thefts.