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Cemetery vandalisim


rashore

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Sometimes people in the ghost sections wonder why I'm so hard about trespassing and illegal behaviors in haunts. Because in the course of my being a spooky cemetery conservationist and researcher I was appalled by just how much cemetery vandalism happens to cemeteries that aren't thought to be haunted at all. I've been fairly selective in the past when posting about these crimes, usually only when they have been reputed places in the ghost and legend areas.

Cemetery vandalism is a true problem. It happens year round. It sometimes destroys irretrievable pieces of history and desecrates the dead. I keep a loose eye on vandalism news. Typically, there at least a few every month. And there always seems to be a jump in activity during October. We are barely a week into the month, and already there are several articles. 

10/1. Rome, Georgia. A skull found while a man was clearing out his grandfathers house might yield the solution to a 2003 grave robbery: http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2016-10-01/police-aim-solve-mystery-after-skull-found-vacant-home?v=1475321491#

10/3. Ontario. Kawartha. Riverside Cemetery. Mischief to a number of private burial sites. Also refers to a September 15 vandalism of a different local cemetery: http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/6891746-police-seek-leads-to-cemetery-vandalism/

10/3. FOX CROSSING, Wisconsin. St. John’s Cemetery. Headstones, flowerpots, and floral arrangements damaged. http://wbay.com/2016/10/03/st-johns-cemetery-vandalized/

10/3. Scottland, Greenock. Rankin Memorial Garden, Infants memorial section. Keepsakes broken and plants ripped up: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/greenock/14778292.Vandals_target_babies____remembrance_garden_at_Greenock_Cemetery/

10/4. Victoria. Harling Point Chinese Cemetery. Spray paint grafitti on the offering table. http://www.iheartradio.ca/cfax-1070/news/victoria-chinese-cemetery-defaced-and-vandalized-1.1989723

10/4. HARRIS COUNTY, Georgia. Hutchinson Cemetery. Paint splashed on gravestones.  http://wrbl.com/2016/10/04/news-3-exclusive-reports-of-another-cemetery-being-vandalized-in-harris-county/

       * The Sardis Cemetery referred to in the above article is from August 2016, when some people decided to drive ATV's around in the cemetery and caused a lot of damage.

10/5, WYCKOFF, New Jersey. Wyckoff Reformed Cemetery. Approximately 50 headstones toppled: http://abc7ny.com/news/dozens-of-headstones-damaged-in-nj-cemetery-vandalism/1540728/

Second 10/5 article, repairs expected to be at least $10,000 to repair: http://wyckoff.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/photos-vandals-topple-50-headstones-in-wyckoff-cemetery/684386/

Third article from 10/5, this time stating $50,000 in damages: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/10/05/wyckoff-n-j-cemetery-vandals/

10/6. Denmark, Jutland, Hadsund.  Visborg Kirke cemetery. Spraypaint graffitti on 110 gravestones- over half the cemetery. http://cphpost.dk/news/over-100-tombstones-in-small-jutland-cemetery-sprayed-with-graffiti.html

10/6. UK. Chaddesden. Nottingham Road cemetery. Infants grave ornaments smashed. http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/vandals-smash-ornaments-on-baby-s-grave-in-chaddesden/story-29784047-detail/story.html

 

What a terrible and awful thing :(

 

 

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As a member of the local cemetery society, I am not amused. :angry:

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Time for an update. This week too has seen activity in the news.

 

10/6, Laurel, Mississippi, Hickory Grove Cemetery. 72 gravemarkers knocked over and damaged. http://www.wdam.com/story/33359755/dozens-of-tombstones-vandalized-at-laurel-cemetery

10/6, Lapote, Colorado. Bingham Hill Cemetery. A reputed haunt, it has been vandalized a few times since August, and is regularly vandalized. And already the law-breaking ghost curious have already been showing up and getting busted this month. http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2016/10/06/guardians-historic-cemetery-worry-security/91673952/

10/7, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Water Street Cemetery. Ghost curious trespassing. https://www.spcitytimes.com/2016/10/11/police-sheriff-calls-oct-7-10/#_

10/9, UPDATE- From 10/4. Victoria. Harling Point Chinese Cemetery. Graffiti has now been cleaned up :)http://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/vandalized-gravestones-cleaned-up-at-chinese-cemetery-1.3108638

10/10, NYC, New York, Temple Beth Shalom. Nazi-related anti-Semitic graffiti. http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Jewish-Cemetery-Vandalized-in-NYC-Area-396513351.html

10/10, Southington, Connecticut, St. Thomas Cemetery. Police arrest culprit of a series of thefts and vandalism over the course of the last year. http://southingtonobserver.com/2016/10/10/police-arrest-one-culprit-in-cemetery-vandalism/

10/11, Alliston, Ottowa. St. Paul's Cemetery. Police charge culprits from Sept 29/30 vandalism of damaging urns and exposing the remains. http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=88070

10/10, Massillion, Ohio. St Barbara's Catholic Church Cemetery. A series of fires on the property, including arson of fires set in the cemetery and in dumpsters on the grounds. http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20161010/series-of-unrelated-fires-in-massillon-has-firefighters-seeking-clues

10/11, GUELPH, Ontario. Garden of Grace memorial vandalized by protesters- Warning- contains potentially sensitive content. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/abortion-activists-vandalize-memorial-for-aborted-babies-with-condoms-graff

10/12, Barnesville, Georgia. Greenwood Cemetery. Two sentenced in relation to gravestone damage vandalism this summer. http://www.barnesville.com/archives/9613-Two-sentenced-for-vandalizing-graves-in-Greenwood-Cemetery.html

 

 

 

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I used to hang out in this cemetery. I've heard they've since "cleaned it up" a bit, but back in the old days, this place was total vandal fodder.

 

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jul-crumbled-infrastructure-moncrief-mt-olive-graveyard

Edited by Skulduggery
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Time for this weeks cemetery news report...

10/11, Easton, Conneticuit, Union Cemetery. Trespassing: http://www.eastoncourier.com/45766/police-log-domestic-incident-missing-pig-trespassing-at-cemetery/

10/14, Sturgis, Michigan, Oaklawn Cemetery. Two reports. A mausoleum vandalized: http://wsbt.com/news/local/sturgis-police-looking-for-cemetery-vandals

Substantial graffiti around the cemetery, with reference to an April vandalism of tipping headstones: http://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2016/oct/14/more-cemetery-vandalism-in-sturgis/

10/15, Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Nazareth Moravian Church: Voulenteers repaint over lewd grafitti and do spruceing up: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/nazareth/mc-nazareth-morvian-graffiti-20161015-story.html

10/15, Bullskin, Pennsylvania, Green Ridge Memorial Park: Two men charged with theft, conspiracy, institutional vandalism, receiving stolen property and intentional desecration of a public monument for the theft of hundreds of bronze monuments, $60,000 worth. One man went on the run, subsequently captured: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2016/10/15/Man-charged-with-stealing-400-cemetery-vases-found-living-under-a-bridge/stories/201610150031

10/15, Lexington, Kentucky, Cove Haven Cemetery: Police announce they have gathered together the materials for cemetery cleanup- the cleanup is tomorrow, 10/22: http://www.lex18.com/story/33397245/lexington-police-ask-public-to-help-with-historic-cemetery-cleanup

10/17, Rochester, California, Mt. Avon Cemetery. Vehicle hit and run on cemetery gate: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20161017/rochester-police-investigating-cemetery-vandalism

10/17- UPDATE- From 10/10, NYC, New York, Temple Beth Shalom. Hundreds of people from various faiths descended and helped with a huge cleanup :)http://westchester.news12.com/news/warwick-community-gathers-to-clean-up-jewish-cemetery-vandalism-1.12465340

10/17, Chicago, Il, Maplewood Cemetery. Cemetery preservation comittee formed and already preserving gravesites: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-valparaiso-cemetery-tour-st-1018-20161017-story.html

10/19, Warrenton, Oregon, Ocean View Cemetery. 13 headstones tipped: http://www.dailyastorian.com/Local_News/20161019/vandals-damage-headstones-at-ocean-view-cemetery

10/19, Lawton, Oklahoma, Lawton Highland Cemetery. Over 70 graves have been tampered with over the last few weeks, new security upgrades are being installed: http://www.kswo.com/story/33431534/highland-cemetery-to-get-security-cameras-after-repeated-vandalism

Second article specifically about multiple vandalisms of an infants grave: http://www.kswo.com/story/33411446/family-fed-up-with-vandals-damaging-babys-grave

10/19, Fife, UK, Hayfield Cemetery. Multiple forms of damage: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/301503/the-level-of-vandalism-to-this-cemetery-is-completely-unacceptable-police-hunt-fife-graveyard-thugs/

10/19, East London, UK, Woodgrange Park Cemetery. Four week long destruction spree: http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/722975/gravestones-cemetery-vandalism-east-London

10/19, Carter County, Kentucky, Sexton Cemetery: Four men indicted for violating graves: http://www.journal-times.com/news/local_news/eight-indicted-four-for-violating-graves/article_33a7e236-95fc-11e6-9642-83663603d2a6.html

10/20, Miami, Oklahoma, Northeast Oklahoma Memorial Veterans Cemetery: Local club raises funds to replace cemetery fencing that was stolen in September: http://www.miamiok.com/news/20161020/veterans-moved-by-commerce-tsa-students-donations

10/20, Athens, Georgia, Princeton United Methodist Church Cemetery: headstones damaged: http://onlineathens.com/blotter/2016-10-20/headstones-damaged-athens-church-cemetery

10/21, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Circle Hill Cemetery. Couple engaged in inappropriateness. Man taken into custody due to existing warrant, both cited: http://gantdaily.com/2016/10/21/gant-police-blotter-230/

 

 

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23 minutes ago, XenoFish said:

The dead don't care. Only people do.

Yeah, people care.

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Back in my misspent youth, we would "hang" out in the cemeteries.  It was not a vandalism thing for us, it was more of an experience for us.  We would walk the rows and read the headstones and try to "connect" with the spirits.  

Obviously, at the time, my younger self didn't see the bigger picture.  Looking back, regardless of our intent, we did a disservice to those lain beneath the ground.   In our search for "spirits" and "ghosts" we may have very well disturbed those who were resting.

i still maintain that cemeteries are special places and that visiting them with good intentions can be done.  I wish my younger self would have had the knowledge I do today.

sidenote, I twisted my ankle on the last visit to the cemetery and I figured that I would not return because I had been warned.  Had to come up with a story on how I did it when I was supposed to be at the movies.

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These people who go around vandalising cemeteries, I have to wonder if they've ever lost anyone close to them.

Edited by Still Waters
Fixed spacing at end of post
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I'm a day late on the weekly update. Fortunately it seems that it was a typical week for what usually goes on year round, and not a typical October week.

 

10/27, Benton Kentucky, Benton Cemetery and Strow Cemetery. Three minors charged in damaging 55 headstones in the two cemeteries: http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/story/33503116/3-minors-charged-in-cemetery-vandalism

10/28, Nacogdoches county, Texas, Chireno Lower Cemetery. Old infant grave vandalized: http://www.kcbd.com/story/33506015/authorities-investigating-vandalism-of-infant-grave-in-chireno-cemetery

10/28, Bishop Aukland, UK, Bishop Auckland Town Cemetery. Six graves found during a cemetery cleanup following vandalism: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14829067.Council_tidy_up_overgrown_cemetery_plagued_by_vandalism_and_find_three_war_graves_and_a_homeless_man/

 

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I firmly believe that if you don't ask permission to be on someone's property or are willing to trespass (thereby breaking the law) you aren't doing anything but thrill seeking.

I do understand that when a person is young they may not know trespassing laws so Maureen Jacobs this isn't directed to you. If you and the people you were with didn't do anything but hang out and see you if could get an experience than I don't feel like you did anything terrible. In different eras going to a cemetery was a common thing and a lot of families would picnic on or near the graves of their loved ones and while that might seem disrespectful by todays standards it wasn't then. What shows disrespect to me is willfully destroying and bringing negativity to a place where people have laid their loved ones to rest.

I personally would make the culprits repair at their own expense each item they vandalized, plus do more time guarding the cemetery as a part of their sentence.

Mabon. 

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42 minutes ago, Mabon said:

What shows disrespect to me is willfully destroying and bringing negativity to a place where people have laid their loved ones to rest.

^ This.

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I remember this one time back in the days when I was still at school, I used to belong to our local church choir. On this particular day a couple of us had to get something out of the church and the vicar told us to be respectful when we went in because there was a coffin inside prior to a funeral. Having never come in contact with a body in a coffin before we weren't too keen at the thought of it being there, it made us nervous, but the vicar came in with us and I avoided eye contact as much as possible towards the altar where the coffin had been placed.

Changed days, I've seen more coffins now than I care to remember. Back then though I found the experience quite unnerving.

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4 hours ago, Mabon said:

I do understand that when a person is young they may not know trespassing laws

You don't have to know trespassing laws to understand that a locked fence means someone doesn't want you inside when the gate is chained or otherwise locked shut.

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Quote

You don't have to know trespassing laws to understand that a locked fence means someone doesn't want you inside when the gate is chained or otherwise locked shut.

What I was thinking of is some older grave yards don't have fences or locks or aren't attached to churchyards but old family plots out in the middle of the woods. I do agree that even teens or pre-teen should understand a locked gate. Even going to an abandoned house or building can be 'entering' even if it doesn't have a door or door lock which could be added to a charge of trespass or criminal trespass.

Mabon.

 

Edited by Mabon
computer is being squirrels today and so if this is a double post, sorry.
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1 hour ago, Mabon said:

What I was thinking of is some older grave yards don't have fences or locks or aren't attached to churchyards but old family plots out in the middle of the woods. I do agree that even teens or pre-teen should understand a locked gate. Even going to an abandoned house or building can be 'entering' even if it doesn't have a door or door lock which could be added to a charge of trespass or criminal trespass.

Mabon.

 

Well... actually it's usually maintained graveyards that are most often vandalized. A lot of them do have fences or pleasing barriers around the property. That's part of the reason why they show up in the news reports- people notice because they are more active cemeteries like that. Family plots in the woods are typically the least vandalized- hard to find private property, and usually small and piddly enough that vandals don't bother, and small and piddly enough that they aren't as common on the haunt lists.

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I trespassed all the time as a minor. At times it was at cemeteires at night. Obviously because it was a thrill since it is suppose to be creepy lol

I never once had the thought to vandalise anything there though. Wtf is wrong with people. I could only imagine how a family would probably feel having their loved ones resting place ruined or spray painted with d**** or other innaporpriate things on it.

Edited by spartan max2
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Rashore, I know that the thread is about more prominent graveyards and the ones publicly reported to be haunted, I was explaining how it could confuse someone young when there are no obvious boundary markers. 

 

Spartan Max,

The thrill seeking comment was more about people who are old enough to know to respect private property but are more vandalism minded. The kind that dare each other to destroy property because finding evidence or having an experience in a supposed haunted location wasn't the prime goal in the first place. 

Mabon.

 

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The cemetery nearest to me is only partially fenced, but the signs say, "open sunrise to sunset" !

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We walked through a cemetery on Halloween when my daughter was young.  I did it to show her there was nothing to be afraid of since we lived closer to it and some kids were telling her stories.  I told her we needed to respect the graves and she had a whole different outlook on the cemetery after that.  

Never is it OK in my mind to damage any graves.  To show such disrespect to someone's loved ones is not acceptable. 

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I find that disgusting.My parents are buried in a national military cemetery here.So if anyone tried doing  such stuff at Fort Sam Houston, they not only have the local police to deal with  but the military as well.Since this is federal property, they would also be charged with a federal crime, just like destroying postal property,etc.

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There used to be this small family plot in the woods just off the road. One day I saw the woods cleared, and mulch where the headstones were. Turns out the developer did this which inacted the town to set up a law. Today there's a Mcmansion with a child's playset that's within ten feet of the graves. I wonder if the owners know?

Not far away there are two other family plots in the woods of a county park. Somebody over the years knocked over the stones.

They all date from the early 19th century.

One time enjoying the cemetery where the author of Sleepy Hollow is buried. A woman taking pictures of a monument jumped on a raised horizontal slab grave. I gave her a surprised look, and she got back down.

Gravesites are a link to the past. The future might make them obsolete, so preserve what we do have.

Here's an ancestor of mine:

Jannetje "Jane" Lewis Parliman

Birth:  Jul. 23, 1776
Death: 

Jul. 11, 1857

51411048_1401500495.jpg

 

 

 

Edited by davros of skaro
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