Source in Indian artifact theft case found dead in Utah
The source in the major Indian artifact theft case was found dead on Tuesday in what authorities in Utah said was an apparent suicide.

Ted Dan Gardiner, 52, went undercover to buy and sell artifacts that were illegally taken from federal and Indian lands. His work was at the center of the indictments of 24 people last fall.

Some people have pleaded guilty in connection with the theft and two defendants committed suicide. It's not known how Gardiner's death will affect the case.

Get the Story:
Undercover informant in stolen artifact case apparently commits suicide (KSL-TV 3/2)
Man dead after standoff with police (The Salt Lake Tribune 3/3)

Related Stories:
Two plead to taking artifacts from national monument (12/1)
Editorial: Casual disrespect of tribal culture (10/7)
Editorial: Repatriate stolen artifacts to tribes (9/28)
Editorial: Slap on the wrist in artifact theft case (9/24)
EchoHawk upset by 'trading' of Indian artifacts (9/21)
Defendants in Indian artifact theft avoid prison (9/17)
Defendant in artifact theft case shows in court (9/15)
Indian artifact case spans Four Corners states (08/27)
Indictment and sentence for theft of artifacts (8/26)
SFe Reporter: Thieves stealing Indian history (08/19)
Judge wants action in Indian artifact case (8/18)
Dealers note shift in NAGPRA enforcement (8/14)
Native man tied to artifact theft investigation (8/7)
More suspects in big Indian artifact theft case (8/6)
New charges in connection with artifact theft (7/14)
Agents remove artifacts from Utah family's home (7/8)
Mother, daughter plead guilty to artifact theft (7/7)
Opinion: Indian artifact theft difficult to combat (6/29)
Defendants in artifact theft linked to scheme (6/25)
Another defendant in artifact theft found dead (6/22)
Letter: GOP hypocrisy on artifact theft case (6/22)
Dorgan won't investigate artifact theft case (6/19)
Editorial: Pandering in Utah artifact theft case (6/18)
Attorney General defends Indian artifact case (6/18)
Art dealer denies wrongdoing after artifact raid (6/18)
Utah town upset over Indian artifact theft case (6/17)
Column: 'Overkill' in Indian artifact theft case (6/17)
Agents searched New Mexico art dealer's home (6/17)
Utah town upset over Indian artifact theft case (6/17)
Utah GOP upset with Indian artifact theft case (6/15)
Tribes support prosecution of artifact theft case (6/12)
Defendant in DOI artifact theft case found dead (6/12)
Two dozen indicted for theft of Indian artifacts (6/11)
Salazar, EchoHawk in Utah for press conference (6/10)