Two Men Arrested in $100K Cemetery Vase Theft

Two suspects, Trey Mason and David Downing of Waldorf, Maryland, have been arrested in connection with the theft of more than 100 bronze memorial vases from Trinity Memorial Gardens in Waldorf during two periods: June 8–21 and July 4–6, 2026. Investigators identified the pair after spotting a suspicious van and recovering dozens of vases from junk near the vehicle; authorities later recovered all the vases stolen in the first wave from a scrap-metal facility before they could be melted down. The total value of the missing vases is estimated at over $100,000, and Maryland law prohibits scrap dealers from buying cemetery bronze items. Mason and Downing are charged with theft scheme, destruction of property, fraud, and related counts and are being held without bond. The investigation also involves cross-agency work with a scrap dealer being reviewed by state police, as investigators say the case centers on a profitable theft scheme targeting cemetery bronzes. Family members and the public are asked to provide information to help further the investigation.