A Fender Telecaster was brought back from the grave, allegedly stolen from a casket of a 67-year-old Army veteran by a Wisconsin cemetery worker.
I chanced upon this interesting guitar related news at thesmokinggun.com. This is a good reminder for us gear heads to keep our “respect” to fine gear and instruments within a healthy and controllable level.
The Telecaster supposed to be valued at $2000 had been placed in the casket of the deceased Randall Jourdan to honor his wish. According to the family, Randall had been playing the guitar for 40 years and he made it known to them that he wanted to be buried with his “Pride and Joy”, his Fender Telecaster.
The accused, Steven Conard, is a 39-year-old worker at the Allouez Catholic Cemetery. The cream Fender Telecaster was found at the accused’s living room. When confronted by the police he reportedly confessed of the crime and said “I just have a respect for fine musical instruments.”
Apparently, Conard could not accept the idea that a fine Fender Telecaster is about to go down the grave. So with utmost “respect” he took it upon himself to save the instrument. The accused even mentioned his intent to his co-worker when they both first checked the casket. He remarked at how expensive that Telecaster was and if his co-worker would say anything if he took it. His co-worker thought that Conard was kidding, but he later found the guitar missing when he checked the casket for the second time.
After the successful recovery of the guitar, it was returned to Randall’s kin and the was properly entombed as per Randall’s wish.
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