• Beekeeper loses main source of income after neighbor sells his hives without permission
• Hives vanish despite neighbor’s admission and authorities’ intervention

Richard Marquette, a longtime beekeeper, was shocked to find all his hives missing when he recently checked his property. The hives, totaling twenty and housing around two million bees, represented a potential income of $8,000 to $16,000 per harvest.

Marquette discovered workers cutting trees nearly 50 feet inside his property. When he inquired about the hives, he was told they had been “moved” by someone claiming ownership of the land.

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office traced the hives to Joseph Denick, owner of the adjacent lot. According to the report, a land-clearing crew accidentally crossed onto Marquette’s property, and Denick admitted asking a friend to remove the hives.

Although Denick claimed he was willing to return them, more than 90 days later the hives had not been restored. Beekeeping experts estimate that each hive can generate $200 to $500 annually, depending on location, management, and local demand for honey.

Marquette said, “The police closed the case, and I’ve lost my money, my labor, and both current and future honey crops.”

Denick admitted posting the hives on Facebook, offering them to anyone who could pick them up. Ultimately, a “friend of a friend” took them, though he declined to disclose who, and he refused an on-camera interview, stating he intends to resolve the matter legally.

Marquette has kept bees since he was ten and relies on them for supplemental income, like millions of Americans.

He is now pursuing legal action with his attorney, Andy Lyons, seeking compensation not only for lost honey but also for the damage to the bees, the queen bees, and the surrounding ecosystem. Additional legal steps are planned if Denick does not cooperate in returning the hives and equipment.

Regarding the lost honey, Marquette said, “It’s like gold, especially when you need it.”