Freaking savages in this town

120 vases stolen from cemetery
BY DOUG CARMAN

Someone looking to loot some brass apparently thought they could take it from the dead.

Sunset Memorial Gardens reported 120 brass vases were picked from its gravesites. According to a police report filed Thursday, they had a net worth of $35,400.

Sunset general manager Bill Vallie and Odessa police Cpl. Sherrie Carruth said two people were arrested Thursday at a recycling center in Midland County and 109 of the 120 vases were recovered.

Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said deputies arrested Travis Wayne Todd Jr. and Marretta Kay Todd in connection to the thefts.

Travis Todd was being held on Friday at the Midland County jail on unrelated warrants for two building burglary charges from Randall and Wheeler counties. Marretta Todd posted a $500 bond for an unrelated dangerous-drug warrant.

Vallie said he was not sure if they were taken all in one night or if it was done over time, but he realized Thursday morning that too many of them were missing.

"We found markers that had vases removed, and as we counted up, the numbers just got huge," Vallie said.

How morally defunct do you have to be to steal from a cemetary? I've heard about guys who go around stealing copper wiring out of buildings and even though its theft you kind of understand its still within some limits. But once you start ripping off the dead you cross that line. I hope a ghost haunts these two for a very long time.