Memorial bench stolen from Clay Co. cemetery

CLAY COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) — A memorial bench a family had made for their loved one’s grave site is now gone.

Dan Gilbert lost his battle against cancer in October of 2017. He was a retired police chief in the Cincinnati area.

He was buried in his family’s cemetery in Onedia, called the Lincoln Gilbert Cemetery.

Elizabeth Gilbert, Dan’s daughter, says her mother was visiting his grave this past weekend and discovered some items were missing.

The family is trying to find the person or persons responsible for taking a bench engraved with Gilbert’s badge and last name from his grave.

The bench, along with some flowers, angels, and a small American flag were all stolen from the grave.

Elizabeth says her mother worked so hard on this bench and makes the drive from Cincinnati to Clay County as often as she can.

“It’s not a short trip and it’s definitely heart wrenching when you drive all that way to replace flowers and to visit and you get this kind of news,” says Elizabeth.

She adds that the bench is not only important to her, but her entire family.

“At our family reunions it’s a great place to sit next to my dad and my grandparents are right next to my dad,” Elizabeth says. “It feels like we can be with them and it’s been taken away.”

The family says the items had to have been stolen anytime from July 8th to September 16th.

Anyone with information on the stolen bench is asked to contact local law enforcement.