Coupeville marshal investigates missing arrowheads from local museum

The Coupeville Marshal’s Office is investigating the disappearance of several arrowheads from the Island County Historical Society Museum, an inquiry that raises questions about artifact security and oversight at a local historical institution.

The arrowheads, collectively valued at several hundred dollars, were discovered to be missing from the museum collection after a tip prompted officials to review the holdings. Investigators believe the items were removed sometime last year, and a person associated with the museum is suspected in the removal. The marshal’s office has the matter under active investigation.

Town Marshal Lance Davenport has described the probe as ongoing and has asked anyone with information to contact the marshal’s office. No arrests have been announced and the investigation remains open as detectives work to confirm when the items left the museum and how the loss went unreported for months.

The delayed reporting and the involvement of a museum-affiliated person have particular resonance in a small county where community institutions rely heavily on volunteer staff and public trust. For residents who visit the museum for genealogical research, school programs, or local exhibits, the incident underscores risks to irreplaceable items and the need for clear inventory and accountability practices.

Small and mid-sized historical societies often operate with limited budgets and staffing, which can leave security and recordkeeping vulnerable. For Island County, the missing arrowheads illustrate how those vulnerabilities can turn into criminal investigations and damage public confidence in stewardship of local heritage.

Officials have not released detailed inventory lists or the identities of those involved as the investigation continues. Law enforcement and museum staff face the near-term tasks of establishing a clear chain of custody, auditing collections, and determining whether additional items are missing. Those steps will inform both the criminal inquiry and any internal changes the museum may adopt to prevent future losses.

For now, the practical impact for residents is both immediate and procedural: law enforcement seeks tips that could recover the artifacts and hold responsible parties to account, and the museum must address community concerns about the protection of shared heritage. The outcome of the marshal’s investigation will shape how the Island County Historical Society Museum manages collections and communicates with the public going forward.

Readers with information relevant to the investigation are urged to contact the Coupeville Marshal’s Office. How the case is resolved will affect not only the fate of these arrowheads but broader trust in local institutions that safeguard the county’s past.