Arrest made in AC theft that left funeral-goers steaming

June 9– Adamsville Police Chief Bill McCall says he obtained a confession from the man who allegedly stole copper tubing from the air conditioning unit at Shackelford Funeral Home in Adamsville, disrupting a funeral.

He said the McNairy County Sheriff’s Department arrested Joshua Michael Purvis, 29, on theft and vandalism charges Wednesday night. Purvis had spent a week hiding from law enforcement in the rural areas of McNairy County.

Upon taking Purvis into custody, McCall said he was called in to question Purvis about the incident that caused the funeral of cancer victim Kay White to be relocated to Shackelford's in Savannah. "He confessed to taking the copper and selling it," the chief said. "We have heard his name as a possible suspect since the incident took place."

McCall said Purvis told him he took the copper on May 25. It took him an hour to take the top off the cooling unit, remove the coil and replace the top to give the appearance there had been no tampering. He then walked a mile or two along Old Stage Road with the 46-pound coil on his shoulders.

Purvis reportedly sold the copper to Smith Metals in Selmer for $1.60 per pound.