Suspect In Thefts From Mausoleum Arrested

COLUMBUS, Ohio—A man suspected in connection with a series of thefts from a mausoleum on the city’s south side has been arrested.

On Sunday, October 11, 2009, and Monday, October 12, 2009, someone broke into the Greenlawn Abbey Mausoleum located at 700 Greenlawn Avenue. 

Once inside the mausoleum, 20 bronze gates were removed from crypts.  Each gate weighs at least 100 lbs and dates back to the early 1900’s and displayed the name of the person interred.  The gates are more valuable intact, but may have been cut up and sold as scrap metal. 

Investigators identified 41-year-old Mark Daniel Mitchell as having sold parts of some of the stolen gates to a Central Ohio scrap dealer. A warrant was issued for his arrest for receiving stolen property.

As the result of tips to Columbus police and Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Mitchell was taken into custody Sunday at 1840 Genessee Avenue. Officials said they expect to make additional arrests in this case.

He appeared in court Monday morning. He pleaded not guilty and bond was set at $500,000.

A trial date was set for Nov. 10.

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