Cops: Couple sold vet grave markers for drugs

[thedrifter]

Cops: Couple sold vet grave markers for drugs
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Dec 10, 2007 8:08:42 EST

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — State police say a Lawrence County couple might have stolen as many as 800 metal markers from veterans’ graves. Police say the couple sold the brass stakes on the markers for scrap so they could buy drugs with the money.

Police say 23-year-old Matthew Russick and 22-year-old Jessica Gustaitis are in Lawrence County Jail on theft, institutional vandalism and other charges.

Police say the couple stole the markers and broke the military emblems off them but kept the brass stakes.

Police say 238 damaged emblems have been recovered, but authorities say they expect to find more once snow melts at the three cemeteries police say the couple targeted since Nov. 23.

Ellie

[DJA20080211]

public execution i say.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Typical also. I'd like to see them be sentenced to clean up dog crap in cemetaries with there bare hands for about 10 years, wearing a sign saying:

"I'm here because I'm a scumbag who stole grave markers of heroes far better than myself".

Either that, or they should be shipped directly to the front in Afganistan.

[mike christy]

These scumbags hit one of the cemeteries that I take care of, I will remember their names, someday if the gods are willing, I will meet them in person....

[lovdog]

I'm sorry to say that these "idiots" are from my town. I don't know them (we have a population of around 35,000) but unfortunately drugs are a real problem here, just like lots of places all over this nation. I've always said that "desperate people do desperate things" whether it be for money, drugs or just plain greed!
Parents, teachers, and the military instill the pride in oneself growing up - if you miss having the opportunity to have integrity branded in your brain - its easy to go off the deep end in life. About 95% of the population are pretty good people whether its in New Castle or nationwide - its the 5% that you have to watch out for - they were put on this planet to make ones life miserable - whether it be theirs or yours.
If you look around closely, you will notice the decline in the morality of the country as a whole and that its continually spiraling downward. How do you stop the snowball from getting bigger when our lawmakers throw common sense out the window in favor of what is "politically correct".
Until we "get right with God", bring back pride in our Country, watch out for our fellow man, and have some decent leadership from our government officials - I have a feeling that it will get worse as time passes. And, it won't be just New Castle having gravemarkers destroyed and turned in for pieces of gold.
Lovdog - SF

[FistFu68]

THOU SHALT NOT STEAL~JUST AS THE BRASS WAS MELTED~THEY SHALL BE MELTED