A controversial cross that had been stolen from a Mojave Desert war memorial suddenly reappeared Thursday morning, but officials say it's an unsanctioned replica, and must come down.
The cross was discovered at about 7 a.m. Thursday on Sunrise Rock by a maintenance worker at Mojave National Preserve. It was mounted in the same position as the stolen one, but park officials were preparing to take it down, according to Linda Slater of the Mojave National Preserve.
"A court injunction remains in place against displaying a cross at Sunrise Rock," Slater said. "Park employees are preparing to remove the replica cross today."
The 7-foot cross made of metal pipe sat on the site 200 miles northeast of Los Angeles until someone stole it on May 9 or May 10. It replaced a decades-old wooden cross honoring World War I dead.
A lawsuit challenged the religious object because it was on public land and it was boarded up. The U.S. Supreme Court recently refused to order it removed while the case is being decided, but Slater says the new cross isn't covered by the ruling.
Slater says the National Park Service is now investigating both incidences with this cross, and asked anyone with information about either, to call the Mojave National Preserve tip line at 760-252-6120.
