Brass urns from cemetery stolen and scrapped for money

DOVER (Scrap Monster): According to Delaware State Police, several brass urns from headstones at the Sharon Hills Memorial Park were stolen and sold as scrap in exchange of money.

The investigations followed complaint by a man who found that several brass flower urns were missing from several family burial sites in the Park. Upon thorough check of scrap transactions at the Dover Scrap Metal Yard, it was found that the cemetery employees were involved in the theft. The stolen urns were scrapped for money, police added.

The suspects were identified as Shaughn Graves, 39, of Camden-Wyoming, Donald Melvin, 36 of Camden-Wyoming, Lauri Larlham, 42 of Camden Wyoming, and Ethel Melvin, 59, of Dover.

According to police, the scrap yard had initially refused to accept the materials without permission from the Cemetery Manager. Ethel Melvin had then called upon the scrap yard stating that she was the manager of the cemetery who is authorized to sell the brass urns. The suspects declared that the urns were their property.

Ethel Melvin was arraigned and later released on bond. She has been charged with Conspiracy 3^rd degree and Desecration. Graves was arraigned and released on $4,500.00 unsecured bond. Larlham was arraigned and released on $4000.00 unsecured bond.

Donald Melvin is currently wanted for Conspiracy 3^rd Degree and Desecration and multiple traffic charges.

Anyone with information of the incident or whereabouts of Donald L. Melvin are requested to contact Corporal S. Ballard of Troop 3 at 302-697-4454. They can also call Delware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or send an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."