At least 32 church break-ins occured this summer
BLOOMFIELD, IOWA -- Authorities have arrested and charged three additional suspects in the rash of church break-ins this summer.
The three new arrests include William David Edwards, 25, of Memphis, Ashley Nichole Hudson, 18, of Memphis, and Jamie Nichole Scott, 25, of Lancaster.
All three of them face charges of 3rd Degree Burglary and Theft in various levels. Edwards remains on $5,000 cash only bond. The two women were released on recognizance.
Five churches in Davis County suffered nine break-ins this summer. Those Churches affected include Bloomfield Christian Church, Floris Baptist Church, Mark Baptist Church, Grace Point Church of the Nazarene, and the Bloomfield United Methodist Church. However, the rash of church break-ins doesn’t stop there.
The Davis County Sheriffs Office said there have been at least 24 additional break-in’s at churches in five additional counties in Iowa and Missouri. Those counties include Wapello County in Iowa and in Schuyler County, Knox County, Scotland County, and Clark County.
“This investigation has taken up my office's resources for over a week now,” Davis County Sheriff Dave Davis said. “Chief Deputy Josh O'Dell has really took the bull by the horns here and has been working on this over the past month.”
All five of the additional counties have charges pending against one or more of the individuals recently taken in.
Davis said Jamie Scott is the wife of David Patrick Scott, 24, of Lancaster. David Scott is the brother of Christopher James Scott, 20, of Bloomfield. They are both being held on $5,000 cash only bond.
David Scott faces nine counts of 3rd Degree Burglary and four counts of Theft, two of the 4th degree, one in the 3rd degree, and one of the 2nd degree.
Christopher Scott faces eight counts of 3rd Degree Burglary and the same four charges of Theft.
Authorities say there may be more individuals involved and the investigation is ongoing.
In addition to the Davis County Sheriffs Department the Bloomfield Police Department, Ottumwa Police Department, Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Scotland County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Lancaster Police Department, Kirksville Police Department, Memphis Police Department, and Edina Police Department have all participated in the investigation.
Stolen items from the churches include, laptop computers, guitars, sound mixing board, radios, home appliances, electric heaters, video games, TV’s, DVD players, an air compressor, power washers, food items, money, cameras, video cameras, and various other items from the churches.
Davis said they have recovered some of stolen items.
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