Large marble Confederate tombstone taken from St. Johns County cemetery

Someone stole a 100-pound white marble tombstone from a Switzerland cemetery in St. Johns County over the weekend, authorities said.

The marker, belonging to a Confederate veteran named Pvt. James Ponce, was taken on July 30 or July 31, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said.

The cemetery's caretaker said he saw the tombstone on Friday, July 29 but noticed it was missing on Monday, Aug. 1.

The caretaker said it was possible that two men were at the cemetery on the morning of July 29 and said they were in a white Ford truck.

The tombstone was donated to the cemetery by the Daughters of the Confederacy and appeared to be much newer than the deceased listed 1902 date of death.

The report said the tombstone was worth at least $300.

Ponce has no living relatives, the report said. He was listed as serving in B Company of the Third Florida Infantry during the Civil War.

Cox Media Group