When I was a college
student, nearly fifteen years ago, the State Historical Society of Missouri felt that they
were missing a Book of Mormon. Because of my Mormon beliefs, I was suspected of
stealing the book. The book was not found in my collection—since I did not
steal it—so they claimed that a Book of the Law of the Lord that I bought from a
dealer was missing from a small college in Iowa. For the second book, I was charged with
possession of stolen property. I was able to prove that I was framed because of my
Mormon heritage. The following is a summary of that case:
- I have a high standard of ethics and integrity, and did not steal the books.
- A police officer was caught and confessed to planting evidence to frame me for the alleged crime.
- The police officer was since convicted and sentenced.
- The police officer took the 5th Amendment to other questions of tampering and framing in
this case.
- Nobody ever said that they saw me steal a book—it was a circumstantial case based
on speculation instead of evidence.
- The false accusers admitted that their intolerance for Mormons led to their suspicions.
- Enlightened and credible community leaders, including a Mormon bishop who had business
dealings with me, vouched for my character.
- I had alibis of signed receipts, credit card statements, cellular phone records, and
eyewitnesses to prove that I was out-of-state when the books were allegedly stolen.
- Laboratory experts at the FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol could not match my
fingerprints to those found on relevant evidence.
- An investigation proved that I never sold the missing Book of Mormon, and a search
proved that I did not possess the book.
- I had proof of purchase for the Book of the Law of the Lord from a known dealer.
- A study proved that the State Historical Society of Missouri lost the Book of Mormon
thirty-five years ago.
Book
Copyright © 1995 John Hajicek.
All rights reserved.
Since January
1, 2004
