Somebody vandalized and stole items from a growing community memorial at 8157 State Street Road, Batavia, the site of Friday's fire that claimed the lives of 2-year-old twins Michael J. Gard and Micah G. Gard.
The Sheriff's Office is investigating the crime and are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the perpetrator.
Stolen were a decorative fire extinguisher, a teddy bear and a white cross, approximately two feet high.
The cross and teddy bear were placed there Saturday by Richard Frazier, who said the cross had been a temporary marker on his grandmother's grave and the teddy bear had belonged to his grandmother.
Other memorial items were located strewn along the shoulder of State Street Road, indicating the person or persons responsible for the theft departed on foot south, toward the City of Batavia.
There was a memorial service at the site last night and the theft was discovered this morning.
Anyone with information should contact the Sheriff's Office at (585) 343-5000.
UPDATE 2:45 p.m.: The Sheriff's Office released the following statement:
The family reports that the cross and teddy bear have been returned to the memorial. They were taken by another family member to add some additional decoration and were not, in fact, stolen. The affected family is satisfied with these circumstances and consider the matter resolved, and is grateful for the assistance of the public in this matter.
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