Mother Hopes Thief Returns Items Stolen From Daughter’s Grave

A Peabody woman is asking the public’s help in getting back mementoes that were stolen from her daughter’s Oak Grove Cemetery grave. 

Annmarie Scheiding noticed last week that someone stole angel figurines, stuffed animals and other items from the grave of her daughter, Stephanie, who died 10 years ago at the age of 10 because of a rare kidney cancer.

“I’m kind of hoping it was little kids not knowing right from wrong [who stole the items],” Scheiding told CBSBoston. “I’m hoping it wasn’t an adult.”

It's become fairly common for thieves to steal brass and copper from places, including cemeteries, but the angels and stuffed animals were not items that could be melted down and sold like brass and copper. 

Scheiding told the Salem News that some of the angels may have cost $20 each. Most didn’t cost much, but the items hold sentimental value for the family.