Recovered toddler’s headstone was a sample product, say police

UPDATE: Police in Penticton say the owner of a recovered headstone has been identified, and that it belongs to a funeral home.

In a short press release issued Tuesday afternoon, police said the headstone had been stolen from funeral home’s property.

Police added that the recovered headstone was confirmed to be a sample product and not an actual person’s headstone.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Penticton RCMP are hoping to reunite a found headstone dating back to the 1990s with the loved ones who commissioned the grave marker.

On Jan. 14, officers came into possession of a headstone. The family of the deceased, a toddler, hasn’t been identified, according to police.

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The headstone reads: “Our little angel. Mary Ann Heath 1993-1995 asleep in Jesus”.

Officers are hoping the family will come forward.

Anyone with information on the rightful owner is asked to call Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300.

Dozens of headstones, memorial plaques and other grave markers have been stolen from cemeteries in Naramata, West Kelowna and Kelowna and Lake Country in recent months.

Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Kelowna had four large bronze grave plaques stolen in July.

Some have been recovered by police. Some were found cut up into pieces, apparently for sale to metal recyclers.

2:10 Dozens of West Kelowna grave markers stolen