Laurel Man Charged with Felony Theft from Local Churches

Laurel, DE - The Delaware State Police have arrested 50-year-old Chad Wray of Laurel, Delaware. He has been charged with felony theft and criminal mischief. The charges stem from the theft of air conditioning parts from two churches in the Laurel area.

Troopers initially responded to a theft report on January 6, 2026. The incident occurred at Saint Matthews First Baptist Church on Wolfe Street. Authorities discovered that an individual had entered the property and removed parts from two air conditioning units.

A second theft was reported on January 22, 2026, at ELIM Delaware Church on Bi State Boulevard. Troopers found that parts had been removed from three air conditioning units at this location. During the investigation, detectives coordinated with the Laurel Police Department regarding a similar theft at a residence on East 5th Street.

Investigators identified Wray as the suspect through collaborative police work. He was arrested on January 23, 2026, and taken to Troop 4. Wray was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on a $23,600 unsecured bond.

Wray faces multiple charges following his arrest. These include six counts of Theft $1,500 or Greater and five counts of Criminal Mischief $5,000 or More. He is also charged with Criminal Mischief between $1,000 and $5,000, along with counts of second and third-degree Criminal Trespass.

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.