Two Men Arrested in $100K Cemetery Bronze Vase Theft
State of MD - Two Waldorf men are behind bars after detectives say they stole more than 100 bronze memorial vases from a local cemetery. The Charles County Sheriff's Office says the thefts happened at Trinity Memorial Gardens on Mattawoman Beantown Road. Investigators believe the vases were taken during two separate stretches this summer.
Detectives say the first round of thefts happened between June 8, 2026 and June 21, 2026. A second round followed between July 4, 2026 and July 6, 2026. Together, the missing vases add up to more than $100,000 in value.
The case broke open on July 8, 2026 when detectives spotted a van parked on a property next to the cemetery late at night. Officers searched the area and found garbage cans stuffed with bronze vases nearby. Evidence at the scene pointed investigators toward two suspects tied to the van.
Trey Franklin Mason, 25, of Waldorf, Maryland was tracked down at a local motel and arrested that same day. Detectives continued working the case and arrested a second suspect, David Anthony Downing, 34, also of Waldorf, Maryland on July 16, 2026.
Investigators later learned that up to 100 of the stolen vases had been taken to a scrap metal recycling facility outside the county. Detectives responded to that facility and recovered the vases before they could be melted down.
Under Maryland law, stealing cemetery bronze is a criminal offense that can lead to fines and prison time. The law also bars scrap metal dealers from buying cemetery items like vases, markers, and plaques.
The investigation into the scrap dealer is still active, and multiple law enforcement agencies are involved.
Mason and Downing face charges including theft scheme, destruction of property, and fraud. Both men are being held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective K. Dunn at 301-609-6571. Tipsters who want to stay anonymous, and may qualify for a cash reward, can call Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
