Mogadore man offers to reconstruct stolen veteran's statue

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The overseer of the Mahoning Valley Memorial Park on Hubbard Road, where a bronze military statue was stolen in March, says a man from Mogadore has offered to put the pieces of the broken statue back together.

The overseeer, Jerry Pollock, says police have returned the approximately 9 pieces of the statue to the cemetery, so it’s possible the pieces can be put back in place.

The cemetery has also received several phone calls from people wishing to donate to the cemetery to help with the cost, but the cemetery plans to wait on accepting donations until plans have been firmed up.

At this point, it’s not clear what the cost for the repairs will be, Pollock said.

Two men have been indicted in Trumbull County on charges accusing them of stealing the statue and a grave marker for a World War II veteran and trying to sell pieces of the statue.

The statue was in a veteran’s garden, Pollack said, and the replacement cost would be about $36,000, he said.

It is about 4 feet to 5 feet tall and weighs about 170 pounds, he said. Police have said they believe the suspects, Richard R. Couturiaux, 30, of Main Street in Hubbard and Michael A. Cryster, 27, of West Ohio Street in Masury, tried to sell parts of the statue at two locations.

Pollock said it won’t be a problem getting the marker replaced through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs if necessary.