Grave robbers steal priceless Mesa statue
Sep. 30—Police are searching for heartless thieves who stole a widower’s final tribune to his dead wife of 52 years: a custom-made bronze statue on her grave in a Mesa cemetery.
“We are devastated” by the Sept. 17 theft of the $20,000 statue and several vases Sept. 17 from a grave at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, a mortuary spokeswoman said. “We are determined to get this thing back.”
So determined that they’ve already had police contact close to 60 junkyard dealers to be on the lookout for the work of art. So far, it has not shown up at any recycler.
The 4-foot-high statue — almost 87% bronze — is a life-like image of the late Constance Marie Wayland that her grieving husband John had made in 2013, when she passed away. John passed away in 2016.
Weighing about 150 pounds, it is “a deeply personal and irreplaceable work of art,” spokeswoman Holly Morgan said.
It also has been a popular attraction at the cemetery, partially because of its breathtaking detail and partly because it was located
The statue was discovered missing from the cemetery, 7900 E. Main St., after crews reported for work at 7 a.m. Sept. 17. Thieves had ripped it from its granite base, which had been reinforced with steel pins and brackets.
There were no signs of tire tracks in the vicinity, Morgan said, noting the grave is located near the road, “and both the base and surrounding ground appeared undisturbed.”
Mountain View owner Greg Coury pleaded for its return.
“The theft of this statue is a devastating blow to the family, our team, and the community we serve,” Coury said. “This wasn’t just a statue; it was a $20,000, one-of-a-kind tribute that held tremendous sentimental value. We are asking for its return, no questions asked.”
“The statue, which depicts the real face, body, and features of the deceased, symbolized the husband’s enduring love for his wife,” he added.
John Wayland was a construction manager who built homes for Del Webb in three states, then apartment buildings for W.R. Schulz before teaming up with lifelong friend Jere Clark to form multifamily development company Clark-Wayland.
He had been married to Connie for 52 years, raising two children, and living in the Briarwood IV community in Scottsdale, where Connie was on the HOA board for years. according to his obituary.
Connie also had been an elementary school teacher and store manager and “volunteered much of her time to local causes, particularly the Arizona Kidney Foundation and Hospice of the Valley,” according to her obituary.
“Her love, caring and strength greatly impacted her family and many lives outside her family,” the obituary said.
“The theft has caused heartache throughout the community, with regular visitors asking about the statue’s disappearance,” Coury said, adding that Mountain View is offering a reward for information leading to its return.
This is the first theft of a statue form Mountain View, the spokeswoman said, adding. “However, we have received reports of bronze vases going missing recently in this area and throughout the Valley.”
Elisa Krcilek, vice president of Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, said, “We have taken swift action to further protect our grounds, including hiring a security company and reinforcing our automatic gates, which lock at sunset.”
We have recently contracted with a professional camera surveillance company, and they are in the process of installing cameras on the premises to enhance security,” she added.
“We are on high alert for any suspicious activity and urge anyone with information to come forward.”
She noted that the Coury family “has upheld a legacy of compassion and service since the funeral home’s founding in 1951” and “remains committed to supporting the grieving family and the community during this difficult time.”
Anyone with information about the theft can call the funeral home at 480-470-6617.
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