ALTON, Ill. — Four people are facing felony charges in connection with the disappearance of a historic copper statue from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alton, an artwork that had stood in the church garden for decades before investigators say it was taken to Missouri and scrapped.
The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed the charges Monday, Oct. 19, following an investigation by the Alton Police Department. The statue, depicting St. Francis of Assisi, was reported stolen Sept. 13 and has not been recovered.
Three accused of taking the statue; fourth charged over stolen copper
Latisha L. Conner, 35, of Alton; Justin A. Hogue, 35, of Alton; and Sydney D. White, 30, of Staunton, are each charged with theft exceeding $10,000, a Class 1 felony.
According to the charging allegations described in published court reporting, prosecutors contend the three unlawfully took control of the metal statue from church property at 10 E. Third St., intending to deprive the congregation of it permanently. The charged value falls between $10,000 and $100,000.
Timothy A. Rodgers, 41, of Alton, faces one count of theft, a Class 4 felony. His charge differs from the others: Prosecutors allege he took control of pieces of copper belonging to the church under circumstances indicating the material was stolen. The allegation does not charge him with personally removing the intact statue from the garden.
Following their arrests, a judge ordered all four defendants released under conditions. As of Monday’s reporting, none remained in custody. Prosecutors also reportedly filed petitions seeking to revoke pretrial release for Conner, White and Rodgers in connection with conditions imposed in earlier cases. Those requests are separate from any determination of guilt in the statue theft.
A work of art reportedly reduced to scrap
The stolen figure was a hammered-copper sculpture created by St. Louis-area artist Hillis Arnold. The statue had been a longstanding presence in St. Paul’s garden, where generations of parishioners and visitors had encountered it.
Earlier this month, Alton police said investigators believed the statue had been scrapped in Missouri. The Rev. Garron C. Daniels, a church leader, said the artwork was sold for approximately $100 less than two days after disappearing. That reported scrap payment stands in stark contrast to the value alleged in the felony charges.
Police have not announced that the statue, or the metal from which it was made, has been recovered.
The church had previously experienced thefts of copper downspouts, and parish members had offered a reward in hopes of recovering the sculpture. Daniels has expressed grief over the loss while also speaking about forgiveness and accountability.
Police say the case remains open
Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford previously acknowledged the artwork’s significance and said detectives would continue their work even if it could not be returned.
“Our detectives have worked diligently to follow the evidence,” Ford said in the department’s October 1 statement.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Alton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 618-463-3505, extension 635.
The four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Sources: Alton Police Department statement, Oct. 1, 2026; The Telegraph, Oct. 19, 2026, reporting on Madison County charges; RiverBender, Oct. 1, 2026, church statement on the statue.
Editor’s note: The criminal allegations have been attributed to prosecution records as reported by The Telegraph. VOTP News STL has not independently obtained the charging documents.
