Sheriff: Alabama woman arrested for stealing flowers from graves

Recovered floral arrangements. DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. (WDEF) — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Alabama woman for stealing floral arrangements from graves.

Martha Bowes. DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 

Authorities arrested 69-year-old Martha Jane Bowes of Valley Head, Alabama on Saturday, May 18. They are charging her with theft of property 4th and desecration of a gravesite.

The sheriff’s office first received reports of gravesite thefts at Painter Cemetery on Thursday, May 16. They said this victim faced a theft from the gravesite before and installed cameras to catch the person responsible. Thursday morning, the cameras caught Bowes stealing two sets of handmade floral arrangements from a headstone, the sheriff’s office explained.

Authorities searched Bowes home in Hammondville on Friday and found the victim’s floral arrangements. They also found many other floral arrangements and recovered those as well.

Investigators spoke with Bowes on Saturday, but she said she was in Mississippi. She told them she would not be back in DeKalb County until the following Wednesday. Investigators learned Bowes “was currently in Fort Payne, and not in Mississippi as she had previously stated.”

Martha Bowes’ arrest. DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Around 7 p.m. that day, investigators went to a home in Fort Payne and arrested Bowes. She faces two additional charges of failure to appear from outstanding warrants.

If you have been a victim of this type of theft, you can contact the sheriff’s office to identify your arrangements. Click here to see photos of recovered arrangements.

“It is sad that we even have laws on the books relating to this type of disgraceful act, but even worse that we have someone actually committing them. But just like any other crime we will 100% put our resources to solving it,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. “Great job by DCSO Investigations and a huge thanks to the public for providing vital intel. Now stolen items can be returned in time for families to have decoration and honor their loved ones that have passed on. We will honor the thief and put a decoration of charges on them!”