Two tourists from Colorado, Roxanne McKnight, 39, and Dusty Spencer, 43, are now facing federal charges for allegedly stealing historic artefacts from Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Utah announced that the pair is accused of unlawfully entering the protected Cave Springs Cowboy Camp area on March 23 and taking several preserved artefacts, including antique nails.
Ignoring Warnings: Charges for trespassing in a protected zone
McKnight and Spencer reportedly disregarded the fenced-off area and visible “no trespassing” signs to access the historic camp, which holds remnants from cattle ranchers’ camps between the late 1800s and 1975. The site also contains ancient Indigenous rock carvings estimated to be 6,000 to 7,000 years old. According to the park’s official guidelines, “Entering, touching, or climbing on archaeological sites is strictly prohibited.”
Trail cameras reportedly captured footage of the duo climbing over the fence and interacting with the artefacts, as reported by KSL. Rangers claim McKnight and Spencer not only removed items from a secure cabinet but also handled historic harnesses “in a manner that had the potential to damage them.”
Both tourists are now charged with theft of government property under $1,000, unauthorized possession of archaeological resources, and trespassing on an archaeological site. McKnight and Spencer are scheduled to appear in court on November 8. Meanwhile, the National Park Service continues its investigation into the incident.
