On April 12, 2015 investigators with the Wood County Sheriff's Office began an investigation into the possible theft of gravestone markers. Although investigators had not received a report of such theft, they had obtained information in regarding a male subject who had possibly been stealing brass markers from Veteran's gravesites in two separate locations in Wood County. Investigators started checking local cemeteries where they eventually located sites of stolen headstone markers.

Investigators recovered brass plates that had been stolen from several headstones. With additional investigation the suspect was identified as Chad Hennessey. Hennessey was arrested on a parole warrant April 14. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Hennessey's residence on April 14, where they located more brass markers from headstones as well as drug paraphernalia and tools used to grind information from the headstone markers.

Once arrested Hennessey confessed to stealing headstone brass markers from New Hope Cemetery as well as Rockfield Cemetery. Both cemeter- ies are located in rural Wood County. Hennessey stated he stole markers from the headstones and took them back to his residence. He would then grind the markers down to remove the names from the brass markers. Once the information was removed, Hennessey attempted to sell the brass. Hennessey is charged with multiple counts of theft.

At this time, 12 brass markers as well as one brass urn have been identified as stolen by Hennessey. Eleven of the markers were veterans of different wars with one being an individual killed in action in Vietnam.

Sheriff Jim Brown is asking for the public's help in identifying surviving family members of the Veteran's grave markers.

Anyone with information should contact Sgt. Jacob Richardson or Captain Miles Tucker at the Wood County Sheriff's Office.