Sheriff Asks For Public's Help in Fort Snelling Grave Disturbance

Editor's Note: The following is a Hennepin County Sheriff's Office press release.

Today, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek is asking for the public’s help to identify suspects or evidence in the investigation of a . The crime took place at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis on July 12, 2012. 

Sheriff Stanek announced that up to a $10,000 reward may be provided for information that leads to an arrest or conviction of whoever was responsible for the crime. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General will provide half of the reward.

“This case involves a man who served his country with honor and who was resting in peace for four decades,” said Sheriff Stanek, “Those facts alone should inspire you to pick up the phone and help us get this case solved.”

Investigators believe that more than one suspect was involved in the crime. Sheriff Stanek provided several photos of a folding knife that was found at the crime scene. The knife has a three-inch blade and a black handle. On one side of the handle, there is the name “Wally” inscribed in a crude manner. 

On July 12, a maintenance worker at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery discovered that a grave site was disturbed. A significant amount of ground and soil had been removed. , a veteran of the World War II, was buried at the grave site in 1971.