Moline, IL (KWQC) — Jesse P. Hays, 44, of East Moline, has been charged with felony theft after allegedly stealing 65 brass memorial plaques from Butterworth Parkway and selling them to a local recycling center. The total value of the stolen plaques, which were bolted to benches and concrete along the 5100-5300 blocks of River Drive, is estimated to be over $16,000.
The theft was initially discovered by the Moline Parks Department on Dec. 16, 2024, when 30 plaques were reported missing. However, after further investigation by the Moline Police Department and the Parks Department, it was revealed that 65 plaques had been stolen, with each plaque valued at $250, including labor costs.
Detectives found that the brass plaques had been sold for $610 at a nearby recycling center. The faces of the plaques had been ground off, rendering the memorial inscriptions destroyed. This act of vandalism has left many families without their tributes to loved ones.
Hays has been charged with felony theft, and an arrest warrant has been issued for him. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the theft to contact Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities at 309-762-9500 or the Moline Police Department at 309-797-0401.
The investigation continues as authorities work to recover the stolen plaques and ensure accountability for the crime.