ROMNEY, W.Va. — The theft of a Frontier Communications service truck led to a multi-state investigation and the recovery of thousands of dollars worth of stolen property.
State Police were contacted about the theft of the Frontier truck back on March 1st in Romney, West Virginia. The vehicle’s GPS pinged it to a location near Bedford, Pennsylvania. Last Friday, Troopers received a complaint of a second stolen truck, this one a GMC model, which was stolen less than 25 miles from where the Frontier truck was taken.
On March 8th, last Saturday, West Virginia Troopers were contacted by Cumberland, Maryland Police who had located the stolen GMC pulling a trailer stolen from Cumberland. The driver, Lindsey Teresi, 30, of Cumberland, MD was arrested. Officers said an unknown male travelling with her fled the scene in the stolen Frontier truck which was also pulling a trailer.
The case broke open a day later, when on Sunday Hampshire County deputies found the stolen Frontier truck at a campground west of Romney in Hampshire County.
A search warrant executed at the campground yielded two suspects, identified as Johnathan Church, 43, of Goldsboro, MD and Jarel Schaefer, 43, of Denton, MD. The two were found living in a stolen camper at the campground. Investigators also found a side-by-side at the campsite which was suspected to have been stolen The search also yielded a trailer, generators, 11 guns which included an illegal AR-15 and other rifles all of which had been reported stolen.
Schaefer and Church were convicted felons and wanted fugitives in Maryland and Delaware. They were taken into custody and charged with grand larceny, possession of stolen property, felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy, and being fugitives from justice.
Investigators said the value of the stolen items recovered was around $70,000.