SMYRNA, Del.- Police say Ivan Benson and Destiny Guest of Smyrna stole from veterans and desecrated gravesites at the same time.
Police said Benson and Guest stole more than 80 American Legion grave markers and then the duo tried to pawn them off at Infinity Recycling, a scrap metal business near Chestertown, Md. Works at Infinity Recycling smelled a rat, and wasted no time calling police.
"It was just a very suspicious item, just something that didn't look normal that would be brought in that should be scrap," said a representative with Infinity Recycling.
The grave markers were placed at the gravesites by the American Legion in Smyrna, Del. Veteran Michael Schroeder said he and his fellow members are outraged.
"American Legions all over this country, this is what we do and for people to do something like that, put them in jail," Schroeder said.
The Queen Anne's County, Md., sheriff was also offended.
"This is one of the worst things you can do," said Sheriff Gary Hoffman. "Think about all the things our veterans have done for our country and to have somebody take and steal the grave markers that are placed there is just a disgusting crime."
Workers at Infinity Recycling are being applauded for how they handle the situation.
"I would hope that the other scrap businesses would do the same and seeing as how we have to put it in the computer for the new Maryland law that went into effect not too long ago, they are going to find it anyway. So if we can help them expedite the problem than I feel like that's what we should do," the Infinity Recycling representative.
Police said doing the right thing is what helped save the grave markers. All of them have since been returned. Police have caught up with Guest but are still looking for Benson.
