Bride’s Wedding Pictures Stolen, Pleas For Public’s Help

On May 14, Blakely Swanson Clement lived out her dream, marrying her high school sweetheart at Our Lady of Sorrows Church followed by a reception in the West Bottoms.

The nurse had no clue then that hours later, a criminal would steal away her most precious memories.

Swanson Clement’s wedding photographer, from Saint Louis and in town for the wedding, scheduled a sunrise shoot with a different couple at Loose Park the following morning. While the photographer was taking pictures, someone broke into the photographer’s vehicle and stole a MacBook and memory card containing the images of Swanson Clement’s wedding.

Weeks later, when the photographer said she needed to talk, “That made my heart sink,” Swanson Clement recalls.

Gone were the newlyweds’ wedding pictures. They only have some cell phone images friends and family randomly snapped.

“I wanted to live in the moment and put my phone away that day,” Swanson Clement explains. “I was never thinking I needed to make sure I had photos of me and my parents.”

Unfortunately, Swanson Clement and her husband are not alone. Metro Division’s Property Crimes Section reports the images from a second wedding were also on the stolen MacBook.

Investigators are working the case. For now, the couple is asking the public to call KCPD if they come across the stolen MacBook and camera gear.

“She (the photographer) was there when we got ready and when my dad first saw me in my dress,” Swanson Clement said. “We’ve been looking forward to reliving that wonderful day and to get the pictures back would mean everything to us, our parents, and our grandparents.”

If you have information to help Swanson Clement and her husband, call Metro Division Property Crimes at 816-581-0679.

Serial Numbers:

Apple MacBook Pro

APPLE MBP/I7/6C/32GB/1TB SSD/555X/SG/15.4"

SERIAL #: SC02Z92U5LVDQ

CANON 24-70MM F/2.8L EF II (USM) LENS

SERIAL #: 915175B00292AA215865005708

CANON 100MM F/2.8 MACRO L IS LENS

SERIAL #: 913554B00292AA217112889

CANON 50MM F/1.2L EF (USM) LENS

SERIAL #: 911257B00292AA2106495795

CANON 70-200MM F/2.8L IS EF II USM LENS

SERIAL #: 912751B00292AA213400000954