Mayor Took Dead Man's Skid Steer, Say Cops
It's not every day that a small-town mayor finds himself at the center of a criminal investigation — much less one involving a dead man's $18,000 piece of machinery. But that's exactly what happened in St. Mary, Missouri, where Mayor Adam Bequette is now facing two felony charges tied to an unusual theft.
What Sparked the Investigation
It began quietly enough. On March 24, 2025, a property owner in St. Mary passed away.
Two months later, his adult sons returned to his land on Cemetery Lane to collect a valuable item he left behind — a Ditch Witch mini skid steer. It was gone.
Their confusion soon turned to suspicion. The mini skid steer — a heavy-duty machine used in landscaping and construction — was nowhere on the property.
What followed was a police investigation that led straight to City Hall.
The Mayor's Involvement
According to a probable cause statement filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Mayor Adam Bequette allegedly instructed city employees to remove the machinery using a city-owned truck and a utility trailer registered to Bequette himself.
The reason? He claimed it was blocking access to city water lines.
However, investigators found no evidence that the equipment was actually in the way. Photos and statements indicated it was not obstructing utilities, and the skid steer had fuel and a key in the ignition — meaning it could have been easily moved if needed.
The machine was eventually discovered at a city facility used for water and sewer operations. City employees told police they used the skid steer to clean up rocks and even checked its fluid levels while it was in their possession.
The Question of Consent
Bequette reportedly told police he had tried to contact one of the heirs before taking the machine, including sending certified mail and placing phone calls. However, he couldn't provide any records of those attempts, and both heirs stated they were never contacted.
This lack of documentation led investigators to question his version of events. Police concluded there was no evidence the family had been informed prior to the equipment's removal.
Legal Fallout and Court Date
Bequette has been charged with felony stealing and first-degree tampering. He has not yet entered a plea. His initial court appearance is scheduled for July 16, 2025.
A judge declined to detain him ahead of the hearing despite requests from law enforcement. Bequette has been ordered to appear voluntarily.
A Complicated Past
This isn't Bequette's first run-in with controversy. He was previously a licensed police officer but lost his certification after failing to respond to a 2024 complaint involving two domestic violence reports. The Missouri Attorney General won a default judgment against him in that case.
He was elected mayor in April 2024, defeating the incumbent, Carlton Wyatt. Bequette ran on a platform of community change and transparency.
Now, with felony charges pending and a court appearance looming, his future — and the trust of St. Mary's residents — hangs in the balance.
References: Missouri Mayor Charged with Stealing $18,000 Piece of Machinery from Dead Man | St. Mary Mayor Charged with Felony Stealing, First-Degree Tampering | Mayor Accused of Stealing Skid Steer from Dead Man | American Mayor Accused of Stealing $18,000 Worth of Machinery From Dead Man
