Source in Utah artifact case apparently commits suicide

[Shannon Graham]

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah businessman who worked a two-year sting operation for federal officials investigating looting of American Indian relics across the Southwest has died, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot.

It appears to be the third suicide connected to the case.

Ted Dan Gardiner, an antiquities dealer and former grocery store CEO, shot himself Monday at a home in the Salt Lake City suburb of Holladay, police said.

Gardiner, 52, worked with the FBI and the federal Bureau of Land Management in a sweeping case that led to felony charges against 26 people in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.

Gardiner's father and his son told The Associated Press on Tuesday that they could not explain his death. Federal authorities declined comment.

Two defendants — a Santa Fe, N.M., salesman and a prominent Blanding, Utah, physician, James Redd — committed suicide after their arrests in June.

Gardiner offered in 2006 to help federal authorities set up what turned into a long-running sting operation in the black-market trade in prehistoric relics. Court papers say he was typically paid $7,500 a month for secretly recording transactions across the Southwest for more than two years.

Gardiner provided prosecutors with hundreds of hours of video showing suspects admitting they took artifacts from federal and tribal lands, according to court documents.

The case broke open in June when about 150 federal agents descended on the Four Corners region. In the small town of Blanding, Utah, agents raided homes of 16 people, including a math teacher and brother of the local sheriff. Most were handcuffed and shackled as agents confiscated stone pipes, woven sandals, spear and arrow heads, seed jars and decorated pottery.

Full story here.

The Associated Press: Source in artifact case apparently commits suicide

[Shannon Graham]

ksl.com - Undercover informant in stolen artifact case apparently commits suicide

[blueovalfever]

another "suicide" huh...

[Oldpagan]

Sounds like his "karma" caught up with him. May they all find some peace now...

~Geary

[Indianasmith]

Millions of federal dollars spent, three people dead, lives ruined . . . . remind me again who won in this whole mess?

[beforeyouknewme]

Thanks for posting that, Shannon!

[Mojave]

Originally Posted by Indianasmith

Millions of federal dollars spent, three people dead, lives ruined . . . . remind me again who won in this whole mess?

I hear ya' Indy. This all has the potential for various agencies to carefully consider the ramifications of their policies. Perhaps you might even make some headway on your initiatives.
I still think what these people did was wrong, i.e. digging up very meaningful and historically significant cultural stuff on very sacred and restricted land for personal profit. But maybe some folks will sit back and have a long hard "think" on everything that has happened.
Who knows.
may they r.i.p.

[highsierra]

I don't understand this at all. Gardiner dug artifacts on private property, not on Fed lands. These "suicides" are remindful of other questionable deaths involving US cases and officials. Mysterious to say the least, but nothing will ever come of these needless deaths. The convenient "suicide package" seals the deal.

[rmartin]

I agree that this is more than "just strange". Three lives lost, dozens more affected, losts of money spent, and crimes against culture committed. Ray.

[comanche]

SAD but true all criminals get caught mostly because of greed.And when this human element raises it's ugly head, things tend to spin in all directions.
Ever heard the expression "Don't feed the bears" It goes a long way!!!