NORTH LEBANON TOWNSHIP, PA. - A cross stolen - and then returned - to a grieving Lebanon County mother.
The cross and other memorial items disappeared overnight from the roadside memorial for 18-year-old D'kota Wolf last week, on West Kercher Avenue in North Lebanon Township. His family was devastated.
His mother, Tammy Warner, later confronted the man she believes took the items. He also spoke to FOX43. Kenny Arnold lives near the roadside memorial and he said he didn't think it should be there because it's an eyesore.
"That kid looks down and he says what the heck mom you think I'm a pig?," Arnold said on Wednesday. "Sees all that garbage laying there at the telephone pole."
When asked whether he took the memorial items, he said, "It's none of your business."
But on Thursday night, police say a patrolman found the cross returned to the utility pole in the middle of the night.
Friday morning, Warner got the cross back, which was made by Wolf's cousin.
"It's a lot," she says. "It's not my son, but this is in honor of my son. This was made through tears for my son."
Police say they spent hours investigating this case and it went too far.
"The parties involved - it's just out of hand," he said.
The roadside memorial was in the town's right of way. But the Chief says the area is still part of private property as well, and the policy that governs roadside memorials is unlcear. He says there need to be guidelines put in place, and the theft of the items may have been a chargeable offense.
But instead, he set up a meeting on Friday between Arnold and Warner.
"If we could resolve this between the two parties, in a way that both are satisfied, that's how we're going to handle it," he says.
The two met Friday afternoon, at the memorial spot. Warner says Arnold made her an offer to buy a granite memorial stone for Wolf - and place it at the pole.
And then, he apologized for what he's said. Warner says she is grateful for that.
"I want to thank the community for coming together and supporting me and supporting our family, it meant a lot," she says, in tears.
The cross will stay at Wolf's grandparents' house. For them, it's a sign of grace.