Two Indiana residents have been arrested for stealing bronze headstone markers from the graves of veterans at multiple cemeteries, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. Terry L. Wood Jr., 53, and Breanna C. Puentez, 25, face felony theft charges as well as multiple counts of felony cemetery mischief.
The pair is accused of taking 15 bronze headstone markers from veterans’ graves across six different cemeteries in the county, with another marker reportedly damaged in the process.
“This type of criminal behavior is disgusting, unacceptable and will not be tolerated in La Porte County!” said Captain Derek J. Allen of the sheriff’s office. He expressed hope that the arrests would bring some peace to the families of deceased veterans and acknowledged the service of both the living and deceased veterans.
The investigation, led by detectives Jake Koch and Aaron Banic, began on Aug. 28. Just a day later, authorities had identified one of the suspects. Wood was apprehended at a residence where additional evidence was found, while Puentez was arrested the following day.
Wood remains in custody on a $15,005 cash-only bond, while Puentez has been released after posting bail.
The investigation involved multiple divisions, including the La Porte County Criminal Investigations Division, Drug Task Force and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Families of deceased veterans have been urged to check their loved ones’ gravesites to ensure their markers remain intact.
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