Couple arrested in cemetery theft after veterinarian’s gravestones stolen

Two people have been arrested in connection with a series of thefts of bronze headstones from cemeteries across Indiana, police said.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation on August 28 after authorities received multiple reports that bronze veteran markers had been stolen from headstones in the immediate vicinity of Union Mills and Rolling Prairie cemeteries, as well as from headstones in Carmel, Pinola, Greenwood and St. Stan cemeteries.

In total, police found that at least 15 bronze veteran markers were reported stolen and another was damaged.

“On August 28, the agency publicly announced the investigation and urged citizens to visit the graves of deceased veterans,” the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement about the case on social media. “Just one day later, investigators were provided with credible information to identify a suspect.”

Following their investigation, Detective Jake Koch and Detective Aaron Banic arrested 53-year-old Terry Wood and 25-year-old Breanna Puentez in connection with the thefts.

“Personnel from multiple departments conducted an operation called ‘Justice, Peace and Salute’ this morning at a residence in the 400 block of Andrew Avenue in La Porte,” police said. “Wood was taken into custody and additional evidence was recovered from the property. Later that day, Puentez was taken into custody and arraigned in District Court for her role in the theft ring.”

Wood and Puentez are currently in police custody. They are each charged with one count of grand theft and 15 counts of cemetery desecration, police confirmed.

Authorities added that Wood is currently being held on $15,005 cash bail and Puentez is not eligible for bail.

“This type of criminal behavior is abhorrent, unacceptable and will not be tolerated in La Porte County! The entire Sheriff’s Office hopes that thanks to the careful and thorough investigations conducted by Detectives Koch and Banic, justice will be served for both defendants,” said Captain Derek J. Allen. “Hopefully, U.S. veterans, both deceased and living, can find peace and comfort through these arrests, and in that spirit, we pay our respects to them for their service.”

The investigation into the thefts is currently ongoing and a court date for the defendants has not yet been announced.