Council Bluffs, Iowa – Police have arrested four individuals tied to a major cemetery theft case involving the disappearance of more than 1,000 bronze vases from two local cemeteries, totaling over $100,000 in losses.
The suspects, identified as Shane Jackson (52) and Frankie Diaz-Lopez (26) of Council Bluffs, Miranda Shamblin (27) of Red Oak, and Kenneth Meyerott (66) with no fixed address, were booked Wednesday. They face charges of first-degree theft, possession of stolen property, and solicitation of a felony.
Diaz-Lopez is currently serving time in the Douglas County Jail for unrelated charges.
Authorities say the thefts occurred primarily at Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park in Omaha (554 vases) and Walnut Hill Cemetery in Council Bluffs (468 vases). Each vase, made mostly of bronze, was valued between $150–$600.
Investigators believe the theft ring began in late June or early July, allegedly initiated by two former contract employees at Westlawn-Hillcrest who exploited their access to steal the vases for scrap metal. The suspects then recruited others to assist in the thefts.
Four additional suspects are still wanted:
Kristin Davenport (44)
Tracey Klahn (50)
Patty Vance (59)
Larry Trusler (58) — all of Council Bluffs.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Council Bluffs Police at 712-328-4728, 911, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.
A concerned citizen reported seeing a suspicious vehicle full of vases near a scrap metal center, prompting an investigation by police. That lead, passed along by a local funeral home director, helped authorities break the case.
In a statement, Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park expressed outrage, saying,
“It is particularly disheartening to learn someone in the profession, who knew the emotional value of these items, was involved.”
Victims like Omaha resident Penny Burt discovered the thefts while visiting gravesites of loved ones in early August.
“As soon as I got out of my car, it dawned on me. The flowers were just in the holes where the vases were supposed to be,” said Burt tearfully. “That’s my family.”
Westlawn-Hillcrest is offering affordable replacement vases ranging from $25–$137 depending on material and style. The cemetery is working closely with police to help victims restore stolen memorials.
Returning the vases may be difficult, police say, since they lack serial numbers.
CBPD and Westlawn-Hillcrest encourage families to file a police report if they suspect a loved one’s memorial has been affected.
