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Men Accused Of Taking Metal From Cemetery Vaults

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 29, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - ST. PETERSBURG - A former employee at a cemetery, assisted by an accomplice, raided a cemetery for metal parts, such as those used in hip and shoulder replacements, that were left over from cremations, Pinellas County sheriff's authorities said.

The pair then sold the roughly 1,500 pounds of titanium pieces as scrap for $1,500, sheriff's spokeswoman Cecilia Barreda said.

Jack McWilliams, 19, a former employee of Memorial Park Cemetery, and Vincent Paul Marlyne, 42, both of St. Petersburg, are accused of breaking into two interred vaults at the cemetery at 5750 49th St. N. on Jan. 26, Barreda said. They allegedly used two-by-fours to pry them open.

The pieces of metal were sold two days later in Tampa, she said.

McWilliams was arrested on Thursday; Marlyne today Each was charged with injuring or removing a tomb or monument, or disturbing contents of grave or tomb, which is a third-degree felony.

The cemetery received the titanium pieces from funeral homes after people had been cremated, Barreda said. The metal remnants were then put into secured cement vaults and buried in an unmarked part of the cemetery grounds. There they were being held in what is called "perpetual care" in accordance with state law, she said.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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