The Wayzata 9/11 memorial: for visitors like Aaron Soderberg, this is sacred ground.

“It’s a somber day, kind of every year,” he says. “It’s just one of those days of reflection, and it brought the country together.”  

Since its construction in 2021, three artifacts from ground zero — a cross, a piece of metal, and a chunk of glass, have been embedded into the memorial’s granite surface.

For Erik Aamoth and his family, the memorial — located in Panoway Plaza Park — and that glass artifact have special meaning.

“It’s a beautiful spot by the lake,” says Aamoth, from Plymouth. “So, for me, it’s one of the spots to go to remember Gordy and kind of have some reflection.”

On 9/11, Aamoth’s brother Gordy, a 32-year-old investment banker, was working on the 104^th floor of the south tower at the World Trade Center.

A New York City Police officer found the piece of glass near Aamoth’s body.

“I’ve been told on his own dime, flew that piece of glass debris, right? Priceless debris back to Minnesota, gave it to a classmate of Gordy’s,” explains Wayzata Police Chief Marc Schultz.  

Eventually — the glass was donated to become part of the memorial, which honors Aamoth and all 9/11 victims and first responders.

Now, police say someone forcibly removed and stole the glass artifact.

The theft has shaken many in the city.

According to a press release, Wayzata police were informed about vandalism to the memorial on Aug. 29. Initially, officers were told that the glass artifact was smashed, but in looking at scene evidence, police believe the piece of rubble from Ground Zero was “forcefully removed.”

“I think it’s a shame,” declared Byron Payne, of Wayzata. “A lot of people lost their lives, and then to lose a nice memorial like this to be vandalized or stolen, or whatever happened.”  

The Wayzata Crime Prevention Coalition, a non-profit, is offering a $1000 reward for the safe return of the artifact.

“My initial reaction was, why would anybody do this,” Schultz says. “It’s a beautiful place, it’s a beautiful memorial. It means a lot for so many people. Why would someone deface that?”

Authorities have combed through surveillance video from businesses near the memorial, without success.

Investigators say they’ve received numerous tips but are also asking anyone with information to call Wayzata Police.

“It was really, really meaningful to us to have our hometown do this memorial,” Aamoth says. “Just ask the person that was responsible to look into their heart, and if they made a mistake, bring it back, bring it to us.”

Police are asking people to help them find an artifact stolen from the Wayzata 9/11 memorial. The Wayzata Crime Prevention Coalition nonprofit is also offering a $1,000 reward.

The reward is being offered for the safe return of the artifact with no questions asked.

If anyone has any clues to the location of the piece of glass, people are urged to contact Wayzata police.

In 2021, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reporter Tom Hauser spoke to Erik Aamoth. Watch a video of that conversation below.