The Case of the Lost Mormon Books

Collector cleared, and police officer convicted in case

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