UNION COUNTY, N.C. — Three people are in jail accused of stealing from churches in Union County. They hit two places of worship early this month and a local business, but sheriff's deputies caught up with the trio this past week. Now the suspects are facing multiple felonies.
Midway Baptist is a rural church in Union County, a place where people leave their doors unlocked, the last place community members would expect to hear about a church being broken into.
"I thought that was pretty dirty," church member Doug Trull said.
Investigators say Midway Baptist wasn't the only church that Cody and Tuesday Berry and Sharon Schmidt targeted. The three are also accused of breaking into another rural church, Antioch Baptist.
Trull said it was disturbing to see people targeting churches. "Yea it sure is…it sure is."
Sgt. Mendal Miles told Eyewitness News the suspects also broke into a rural business, but investigators were hot on their trail.
"We're going to follow up on those investigations and clear them as soon as we can," Miles said.
Days later, sheriff's deputies made the break they'd been looking for and took the suspects into custody.
"I'm glad they got them," Trull said.
Trull not only is a member of Midway Baptist, he also lives across the street. He's glad that the suspects are behind bars, but he's also puzzled. He told Eyewitness News that if they needed help—they could have asked.
"We'd help them out here, you know," Trull said.
All three are facing breaking and entering, larceny, and possession of stolen goods charges. Cody Berry has a $100,000 bond. The two women have $75,000 bonds.
WSOC
