Bridgewater “Grave Robber” Charged After Stealing Gold From Grandmother’s Casket

A Bridgewater man has been charged with stealing a $5,000 gold chain from around his dead grandmother's neck as she lay in her casket.

Police say 25-year-old Shawn Wilde showed up at a funeral home about 30 minutes before Mary Baroni's funeral on Jan. 28 and asked for a few minutes alone to say a prayer.

When Wilde left, the funeral director noticed that an 18-inch gold chain, which held Baroni's husband's wedding band formed into a heart, was missing.

Wilde left before police arrived.

Police issued a warrant for Wilde's arrest and he turned himself in Saturday.

The Enterprise reports he was held on $2,500 bail after pleading not guilty yesterday. [Associated Press]