DOVER, DELAWARE (8/4/2015) Delaware State Police say brass flower urns were removed from Sharon Hills Memorial Park west of Dover and sold for scrap by four employees who are facing charges.
Police began investigating July 28 when a 77-year-old Dover man reported brass flower urns were missing from headstones on three of his family’s burial sites at the cemetery on Sharon Hill Road.
Troopers located the urns at Dover Scrap Metal yard, which initially refused to accept them until the sellers produced a business license, and found urns from the cemetery had been sold for scrap on April 24, May 4 and May 12 for a total of $354, police said.
The manager of the cemetery, Ethel A. Melvin, 59, of Dover, was arrested July 28 at the cemetery and charged with third-degree conspiracy and desecration. She was released on her own recognizance,
Lauri A. Larlham, 42, of the Camden-Wyoming area, who is Melvin’s daughter, turned herself in to troopers and was charged with two counts of falsifying business records, desecration and third-degree conspiracy. She was released on $4,000 unsecured bond.
Shaughn A. Graves, 39, of the Camden-Wyoming area, was arrested at his home and charged with third-degree conspiracy, desecration and falsifying business records. He was released on $4,500 unsecured bond.
Police said theft charges are pending for Melvin, Larlham and Graves.
Donald L. Melvin, 36, of 900 Moose Lodge Road south of Wyoming, is being sought by police on charges of third-degree conspiracy, desecration and multiple traffic counts. He was described as 6-feet-1 and 203 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. Police said he is the son of Ethel Melvin.
Police asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to call Cpl. S. Ballard at 302-697-4454.
Tips also may be submitted anonymously through Delaware Crime Stoppers, which offers rewards, at 800-847-3333 or www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.
Police said the same family also manages cemeteries in Camden and Smyrna.