Trees vanished from farms in the night. They were stolen and floated away, TN cops say

A Tennessee man is facing accusations of tree theft after investigators said they discovered he was bringing down decades-old black walnut trees and floating them away in the dark.

Black walnut wood is highly prized due to its “fine-yet-open grain, unique patterns, and bold dark color,” experts say.

The thefts were happening in Robertson County, along the Virginia state line, and it’s suspected some additional victims may not have noticed missing trees, the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office said in a March 11 news release.

“On February 5th, Agricultural Crimes Detective Terry Morris received a report of stolen black walnut timber from a farm along the Red River. During the investigation, a second farm along the Red River was discovered to also have black walnut timber stolen,” the sheriff’s office said.

A search of the farms found evidence the downed trees were pulled to the Red River with a winch, then sailed away in the current.

They were likely pulled from the river at a state-owned boat ramp in Adams, according to officials. The trees were then loaded onto a trailer and taken about 20 miles west to Clarksville, where they were sold to a lumber dealer, officials said.

“One of our victims planted those black walnut trees 30 years ago when he first purchased the farm to provide retirement income for himself and his family,” Robertson County Sheriff Michael Van Dyke said in the release.

“They are now gone. It is deplorable that someone would not only violate and steal someone’s property but also take away their livelihood.”

A 44-year-old Adams man has been arrested as a suspect, and he is charged with two counts of theft of property valued at more than $2,500, two counts of vandalism and two counts of criminal trespassing, officials said.