Stolen guitar found, but Pearl Jam autographs gone

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Police in Vermont say a stolen 1972 Fender Telecaster electric guitar autographed by members of Pearl Jam for a teenager with a brain tumor has been recovered -- but the signatures are gone.

The Burlington Free Press reports two men have been jailed on charges of possession of stolen property. Police say the autographs were sanded off.

Ben Hardy said his ailing brother Josh received the guitar autographed by members of Pearl Jam in 1991 in Seattle. It was arranged by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Josh died several months later at the family's home in Durham, N.H.

The guitar and other items were taken from Hardy's home between Thanksgiving and Dec. 5 while he was away.

Arrested were 25-year-old Jeffrey Leduc and 51-year-old Timothy Crews, both of Burlington.