In a brazen act of theft from the Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa, a custom-made bronze statue, valued at $20,000, has been reported missing. The statue is an exact replica of a woman who passed away in 2013 and was a memorial to her life, accentuating her absence with its own sudden disappearance. Police investigations have hit a wall, and now the community's assistance is sought after in what appears to be a series of high-value thefts focusing on bronze artifacts. The statue, representing personal and enduring connection, was commissioned and placed on the grave site by the bereaved family, said Elisa Krcilek, the vice president of the cemetery, in a statement obtained by AZ Family.
Engraved with the very face of Constance Wayland, the statue stood as a testament, its absence a hollow echo disturbing the sanctity of rest. "It was a personal violation to this family and to this company," Krcilek told AZ Family, emphasizing the distinct and sentimental value of the piece. According to a FOX 10 Phoenix interview, cemetery staff have no clear understanding of why someone would target such a memorial, or how they were able to move the heavy sculpture, held down by steel pins and heavy caulk.
The sense of loss goes beyond just the Wayland family. Liddia Taugelchee and her husband, who frequently visit the cemetery, also experienced the theft of a bronze vase from their daughter's gravestone. They conveyed their hurt, saying, "It's difficult to comprehend," in a sentiment echoed by numerous other families affected by similar thefts, as noted in the AZ Family report. Reports of bronze vase thefts have spiked in recent months, forcing the cemetery to replace some with plastic alternatives and tighten security measures.
Reacting to the thievery, the cemetery management has filed police reports and is escalating its security protocols, according to Krcilek. "We are now installing very high-tech cameras," she told AZ Family, determined to curb the trend. Showing the gravity of the problem, cemetery visitors found often that the gates lock at sunset, but the security measures previously in place were not sufficient to deter the culprits. Mesa Police have contacted nearly 60 recycling yards in an attempt to trace down the stolen statue, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, with hopes that the community will step forward with any information leading to the recovery of stolen items.
Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery urges anyone with information to come forward, seeking the return of the statue and other missing objects of reverence. As stated by Krcilek and echoed by the affected families, this is a community appeal for respect and care for one another's sacred spaces, pushing against the desecration driven by illicit profit.
