HOULTON, Maine — About a week after the grave marker of the town’s founder was reported missing from a local cemetery, police have charged two individuals and are seeking two others in connection with its theft.
Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin said Tuesday evening that Joseph Houlton’s 70-pound grave marker was located earlier in the day in a swampy area in Hodgdon.
According to the chief, police received information on their anonymous tip line on Sept. 12 that assisted in recovering the gravestone that had been removed from Evergreen Cemetery sometime between Sept. 4 and 6.
Houlton Detective Kris Calaman began an investigation that pointed him toward the four suspects.
A total of two calls were received and each caller shared the same information.
Asselin said Leonard Devoe, 18, of Houlton, and Jeremy Skura, 23, of Hodgdon, were summoned for theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, a Class D crime. Other charges may be forthcoming.
Police are asking for the public’s help to find two more individuals wanted for questioning, Earl Little Jr., 22, and Brian Devoe, 28, both of Houlton.
Police allege that all four men were consuming alcohol and partying in the Evergreen Cemetery when they began joking with one another about removing the headstone from the cemetery.
After it was taken, the suspects placed the headstone in a vehicle and took it to Skura’s residence in Hodgdon, according to police.
The following morning, Asselin said Skura panicked and drove the stone to the swamp on Hollywood Road, which is a short distance from the Houlton-Hodgdon town line. Skura removed the stone from his vehicle, walked approximately 15 feet into the swamp and discarded the property into the water.
Police escorted Skura back to the swamp Tuesday afternoon and had him retrieve the stolen property, the chief said.
Asselin said police appreciate the help they received from the public in solving this crime and recovering the stolen property. He added that the individuals who provided the tips “deserve the gratitude of the police department and the community for the service they have provided.”
The headstone has been returned to the cemetery superintendent and police expect it to be returned to its rightful location later this week.
Anyone with information on the location of the other two individuals is asked to call the department at 532-2287. The number for the anonymous tip line is 694-3545.
Now we’ve just gotta get that canoe in Allagash back…..
Now, THAT’S funny!
Partying in a cemetery…. only in Houlton. HPD take notice and make regular foot patrols on Rich Man’s Hill. Next thing you know, a Putnam gravestone…..
Police escorted Skura back to the swamp Tuesday afternoon and had him retrieve the stolen property, the chief said. That will teach him a lesson in humility.
What a dubber
In restitution a life time of lawn care for the cemetary
“Leonard Devoe, 18, of Houlton, and Jeremy Skura, 23, of Hodgdon, were summoned for theft by unauthorized taking or transfer a Class D crime”… ‘ of a gravestone’
A Class D crime is one of the lowest levels one can be charged for a cemetery crime.
In 2005, Maine’s Criminal Justice Commission [made up of Maine Legislators] , had a vote among themselves to raise cemetery crimes from being low level crimes, to higher level crimes.
The 2005 Maine’s Criminal Justice Commission voted NO, to making cemetery crimes a more serious crime. I believe one Republican on the Commission from China voted yes.
These individuals will get a slap on the wrist from a judge for committing a crime and turning a person who died over a 100 years ago, into a crime victim in 2012.
I think these kids need to find something else to do with their time.Stealing someone’s headstone is pretty low.
In addition to jail time and fines, these losers also need to do community service… such as cleaning/scrubbing, leveling, and cementing back together all of the very old gravestones of those people who have been forgotten. There are so many stones, from the 1800’s, that need attention.
“a Class D crime”
They will get a slap on the wrist when they go to court.