HAMPTON — A third person has been arrested in connection with the theft of about 40 bronze memorial plaques from historical sites and veterans gravestones in north-central Iowa.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office arrested 31-year-old Rachel Card of Hampton this week on charge of first-degree theft. Card allegedly cashed three checks written in her name from a Sheffield salvage yard as payment for pieces of the plaques sold to them.
44-year-old Brandon Smith of Hampton and 34-year-old Lauren Johnson were previously arrested on charges of first-degree theft, with Smith also being charged with first-degree criminal mischief.
Criminal complaints state that Smith stole plaques from boulders, historical sites, and gravestones in at least six cemeteries in the county, with similar plaques also being reported stolen in neighboring counties. Smith is accused of etching off all the markings of the plaques, cutting them into pieces so they could be taken to the salvage business and sold.
All three have their preliminary hearing scheduled for February 6th in Franklin County District Court.
