WALDORF, Md. (7News) — What should be a peaceful place for closure, left wide open for families with loved ones buried at a cemetery in Maryland.
“My dad, his whole life was painful,” said Madison Shotwell.
Life wasn’t easy for her dad, Eddie Shotwell, between a heart attack, stroke and cancer. But Shotwell said he lived big. He loved racing and working with his hands.
READ MORE | 2 arrested after more than $100K in stolen cemetery vases recovered in Charles County
“He loved his grandchildren beyond means, those were his babies,” said Shotwell.
Now, he’s laid to rest at Trinity Memorial Cemetery. His family started to feel some peace.
“The cemetery finds me peace, putting my dad’s headstone on his grave, he would’ve loved it, it has a motorcycle on it,” said Shotwell.
They visit the cemetery often, seeing not just her dad but her grandparents and other members of her family.
Trinity Memorial Gardens in Charles County, Md. seen on July 22, 2026. (7News)
“The cemetery is really home when we visit there, it’s not just one stop we make,” said Shotwell.
Three generations along with friends are buried there.
“Now, I go and I see this giant hole in the center of the headstone because they stole the vase,” said Shotwell.
Charles County law enforcement said two men came to the cemetery on two different occasions in June and July and stole more than 100 bronze vases.
Shotwell’s dad’s and grandparent’s vases were taken.
JULY 22, 2026 – 25-year-old Trey Franklin Mason and 34-year-old David Anthony Downing were arrested in connection with the theft of more than 100 bronze memorial vases from a Charles County cemetery. (Charles County Sheriff’s Office)
“Honestly this is the lowest you have to go, to steal from the dead is something that’s inexcusable,” said Shotwell.
Investigators believe the first round of thefts happened between June 8 and 21. Shotwell got a letter from the cemetery letting her know what happened on June 30. They say more thefts happened between July 4 and July 6.
Then, on July 8 detectives saw a van parked near the cemetery. They walked up and saw two trash bins filled with vases. They traced the van back to Trey Mason and Anthony Downing, both of Waldorf.
“After we arrested the suspects we were able to learn where they took the vases and that was a scrap dealer in a different jurisdiction and they actually found 100 vases,” said Diane Richardson, spokesperson for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.
The vases were worth roughly $100,000. The investigation into the scrap dealer is active and involves multiple law enforcement agencies.
The vases are back at the cemetery, but Shotwell doesn’t know if any belonged to her. When she buried her dad there, she signed a contract stating the cemetery wasn’t responsible for any damage to the stones or vases.
Shotwell said she understands they aren’t liable, but wishes whoever is responsible could pay restitution. She could end up spending around $1,000 to replace the vases.
“We paid for our loved ones to have this peaceful resting place that is complete, and it’s almost like it’s all for nothing,” said Shotwell.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is also working alongside other law enforcement agencies in an active investigation in to the scrap metal processor. It is illegal for such businesses to accept bronze cemetery items.
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