Four Men Arrested in Connection with Cemetery Theft Case in Radcliff

RADCLIFF, Ky. — Four men have been taken into custody after investigators linked them to a string of thefts involving bronze vases stolen from multiple grave sites in Radcliff. Authorities say the arrests come after weeks of investigating reports from families who discovered items missing from their loved ones’ burial sites. The suspects have been identified as 43-year-old Gaven Carayoan, 33-year-old Jesse Barcinas, and 45-year-old Tomas Bernardo, all residents of Radcliff, along with 30-year-old Joseph Mendiola Sr. of Elizabethtown. The four were arrested on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, and booked into jail the same day. According to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, the stolen bronze vases had been taken from several different cemetery plots, raising concern and outrage from both law enforcement and families of the deceased. The Radcliff Police Department assisted in the investigation, which led to the identification and eventual arrest of the suspects. Authorities say the motive behind the thefts appeared to be profit, as bronze and other metals are often resold for scrap. However, investigators also stressed the emotional harm caused by the crimes, noting that the thefts disrupted sacred spaces and caused distress for grieving families. The men now face multiple charges in connection with the grave site thefts and remain in custody as the legal process moves forward. Officials have not yet released information about whether any of the stolen vases have been recovered. The investigation is ongoing, and both the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and Radcliff Police continue to encourage anyone with additional information to come forward..