Incident Overview
In a surprising turn of events, the Very Rev. Aidan Smith, the head priest and dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral located in downtown Pittsburgh, has been charged with theft after allegedly stealing over $1,000 worth of baseball cards from a local Walmart. The incident took place on February 27, when law enforcement arrested Smith, 42, as he was exiting the store in Economy Borough, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Authorities reported that he had 27 packs of baseball cards concealed underneath his clothing and packed in a cardboard box.
Charges and Investigation
Smith now faces serious allegations, including retail theft and receiving stolen property. This arrest followed an investigation initiated by Walmart’s security team, which had previously detected Smith stealing baseball cards from the store on multiple occasions—reportedly, four days in a row—before his latest arrest. Surveillance footage from Walmart corroborates these claims and indicates that the total value of the stolen cards reached approximately $1,099.99.
Church Response
In light of these developments, the Right Rev. Ketlen Solak, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, addressed congregational members, indicating that diocesan officials will conduct an investigation into the matter. The church’s guidelines regarding clergy misconduct will be adhered to throughout this process. In her message, Rev. Solak expressed her support for Smith and his family, urging the congregation to keep them in their prayers during this challenging time. She also noted that Smith had been on administrative leave since late January, although the reasons for this leave were not disclosed by the diocese.
Community Impact
As this situation unfolds, Smith’s legal representative has chosen to refrain from commenting on the case at this time. The community and cathedral congregation now face the dual challenges of dealing with the fallout from these allegations and seeking clarity on the future leadership of their church.
