Man charged in theft at Tilton family mausoleum

Police say brass fittings taken from mausoleum recovered

Police say brass fittings taken from mausoleum recovered

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Police say brass fittings taken from mausoleum recovered

A Northfield, New Hampshire, man is facing several felony charges in connection with a theft at the Tilton family mausoleum in Park Cemetery last month.

Police called Fred "Cricket" Cross, 53, an armed career criminal and said he is facing multiple felony charges, including criminal mischief, theft and interference with a cemetery or burial ground.

After executing search warrants in Ashland and Northfield, police said they found historic brass fittings that were stolen from the Tilton family mausoleum last month, as well as a decorative brass ring that was stolen from a chandelier at the Tilton mansion last year.

The mausoleum has sat atop the highest hill in Park Cemetery in Tilton for more than 100 years. Cemetery staff members said it looked like a saw was used to cut through the bars of the century-old gate.

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Roger Howe said his wife, Christina, was one of the Tilton children. He said the family was devastated after the theft but thrilled to hear that police were able to make an arrest.

"We're overwhelmed with the fact that they did such a great job in tracking this down and that we're going to get some of the relics back, the hardware back from the inner part of the tomb and the mausoleum, and even parts of the gate that were cut, the bronze gate, were returned," Howe said.

Officers said that during their search, they also found $100,000 worth of construction equipment that had been reported stolen from Concord and Ashland, along with a stolen handgun.

Cross is being held without bail, and additional charges are expected.