The Ontario Provincial Police have laid further charges in connection with a disturbing string of thefts from local cemeteries in Norfolk County.
On Tuesday, officers with the Norfolk County OPP arrested and charged 39-year-old Douglas Stevens of Oxford County in relation to a theft reported at Waterford Greenwood Cemetery.
Investigators say stolen property was recovered during the arrest, and the following day, members of the OPP Crime Unit executed a search warrant on the accused’s vehicle.
According to police, officers discovered stolen items inside the vehicle, including an urn containing human remains.
The investigation has also revealed that property stolen from gravesites had been sold for scrap.
As a result, Stevens now faces multiple additional charges, including:
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Indignity to a dead body
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Trafficking in stolen goods over $5,000 (including possession with intent to traffic)
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Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Police say the investigation remains ongoing, and more charges have not been ruled out.
The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Simcoe.
The OPP is reminding residents to report any suspicious activity around cemeteries or graveyards. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact Norfolk County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers.