“Myriam’s Memorial” in the Milton Cemetery. Photo: Facebook.

JNS.org – A 19-year-old Massachusetts man was arrested over the theft of a Holocaust memorial sculpture in Milton, Mass., last year.

In September 2016, the unnamed suspect stole the “Myriam’s Memorial” sculpture from Milton Cemetery. Sculptor Frank Manasse created the work in memory of his sister and the 1.5 million children who were killed in Nazi death camps during the Holocaust.

Acting on dozens of tips, a police investigation led to the recovery of the sculpture and the arrest of the Massachusetts teenager in November.

Police said they believe that the teenager stole the sculpture to give as a gift to a friend and do not suspect an antisemitic motive. The suspect is reportedly cooperating with police.

“No information has been developed at this point that would lead the Milton Police Department to believe that this crime was motivated by hate, bias or anti-Semitic sentiment,” a police statement said. “Should additional information develop, those avenues would certainly be explored.”

Police also stated that they would seek a criminal complaint against the teenager and charge him with larceny and destroying a memorial to the dead.