Authorities in Fox Crossing have recovered stolen grave markers that are more than a century old.
The Fox Crossing Police Department has said they are now in possession of all six of the 150-year-old cast-iron crosses that were stolen from St. Patrick’s Cemetery in May of this year.
After being reported stolen earlier this year, Fox Crossing detectives traced one of the crosses to a Facebook Marketplace post.
That post led police to 58-year-old Bradley Bloch of Lamartine, WI.
Evidence later obtained placed Bloch in the area of the cemetery at the time of the thefts.
Through further investigation spanning numerous months, all six crosses were tracked down and eventually recovered from locations in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Felony Theft charges for the 56-year-old have been recommended to the Winnebago County District Attorney’s Office by Fox Crossing PD, who stated, “Each cross is valued at $10,000 – $15,000 to replace due to their size, weight, and historic nature.”
In their announcement, they also thanked everyone involved who played a role in recovering these crosses that mark the final resting place for individuals who passed away in the 1,800’s.
Bloch will make his initial appearance in Winnebago County court on October 6th.
