Greenville man accused of stealing veteran’s grave markers due in court today

Greenville man accused of stealing and destroying flower vases and veterans' markers from gravestones at Shenango Valley Cemetery is scheduled to be arraigned today in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

Cody James Brown, 36, is expected to appear before Judge D. Neil McEwen in Courtroom 4 for his arraignment. He faces charges including receiving stolen property, desecration, theft or sale of venerated objects, criminal mischief and several traffic offenses.

Authorities reported the alleged crimes in November 2024 after a visitor to Shenango Valley Cemetery noticed a bronze flower vase missing from a loved one's gravestone. An investigation revealed that a total of 54 vases, each valued at approximately $300, were missing.

Police later identified Brown through surveillance video at the Greenville Recycling Center. An employee at the recycling center recognized images of the missing vases and showed officers a barrel containing scrapped bronze materials, including pieces of cut bronze vases and veterans' markers, that had been brought in by the same individual. The employee identified Brown as the person who brought in the materials on Nov. 14, 2024, and again in January.

Brown was arrested on March 7.