Indiana Law - Cemetery Vandalism

Douglas Keller of the Whitewater Valley Pioneer Cemetery Group on Facebook posted:

 

"Now that Halloween is almost upon us, and being a Board Member of the Fayette County Cemetery Commission, I felt it imperative to post the Indiana State Law regarding vandalizing a cemetery, whether it be public or a Pioneer Cemetery.

Indiana Code 35-43-1-2.1 states:

(b) A person who recklessly, knowingly, or inten

tionally:

1. Damages a cemetery, a burial ground (as defined in Indiana Code 14-21-1-3), or a facility used for memorializing the dead,

2. Damages the grounds owned or rented by a cemetery or facility used for memorializing the dead, or

3. Disturbs, defaces, or damages a cemetery monument, grave marker, grave artifact, grave ornamation, or cemetery enclosure, commits CEMETERY MISCHIEF, a CLASS "A" MISDEMEANOR. However, the offense is a CLASS "D" FELONY if the pecuniary loss is at least $2500.00

If you witness anyone vandalizing a cemetery, or have knowledge of someone vandalizing a cemetery, PLEASE contact the Fayette County Sherrif's Department at 765-825-1110."

 

Indiana Bones states that if any of us witness vandalism of a cemetery to contact that county's Sherrif's Department.  Cemetery Vandalism is one of the most destructive immature acts that people can commit. I know that alcohol & drugs play a role, in addition to childish acts of passing, in many of these cases... besides the physical (& costly) damage to these grave markers, the crimes affect the emotions of family members and the memory and honor of those who have gone on before us. A civilization is judged by how they care for their dead!

RIVER DEBRIS –TSGS Dock of Shame

'

Cemetery Vandalism, AGAIN...

I do not understand how anyone could get pleasure or think that knocking down tombstones is funny or cool??? Let's realize first that any idiot can damage tombstones. Secondly, there are family members who care about these tombstones, most are not abandoned over the years. Also, each grave marker, no matter how old or small, is a monument or memorial to that person's life and should be given respect by all. Something that is often missed by these vandals that do their dirty work in the dark, is the staggering costs to repair the damages... this is a serious criminal offense. Each stone is a historical record for all to see, not destroy! Would these fools do this to their mother's grave or to someone they deeply cared for? I am sure they think no one saw them running amuck, probably giggling like little school girls, knocking down markers that could not defend themselves from such cowardly actions in the dead of the night... but, I believe God was watching!


Members of this small church in Vanderburgh County are trying to figure out how to make repairs after vandals hit their cemetery twice in a week's time. Phyllis Happe, a member of Zoar United Church of Christ, says damage estimates are totaling $100,000. "That's not easy to come up with for a small church with maybe 100 people in it. We will do something with them. We will not leave our cemetery in disrepair, but it may take time." Deputies with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office tell NEWS 25, they do not have any suspects or leads in this case.

Tamara Kincaide posted this link on the INVANDER email list on Friday: Cemetery Vandals Hit Zoar United Church of Christ Cemetery
http://www.news25.us/global/story.asp?s=12674528

I just hope these sick vandals can handle the haunts of the ghosts from these graves of the tombstones that were damaged! - JGWest

"Cemetery vandal deserves God's mercy!"

'

[In yesterday's Evansville Courier & Press, the following "Letter to the Editor" is worth posting here. - JGWest]

To the editor:

I tend to a small cemetery on Evansville's West Side where Benoni Stinson, the founder of the General Baptist faith, is laid to rest. The cemetery is encompassed by CSX railroad property but remains a private lot.

This week I was mowing grass. I was shocked to discover that a half piece of a concrete cross tie was missing and a complete cross tie had been dragged across the cemetery. These had been placed so that vehicles would not accidentally run over graves.

Apparently the thief could not haul away the heavier complete cross tie.

It is my hope that a person who is willing to degrade himself to the point of stealing from a cemetery will find the love of Christ, which Benoni Stinson preached to all in the early days of our community. May the perpetrator of such a vile act never suffer the wrath of God who loves him anyway.

Philip Peckinpaugh
Evansville

RIVER DEBRIS –TSGS Dock of Shame

Vandals knock over 35 headstones at Oak Hill Cemetery

The above is the headline of the Evansville Courier & Press on Thursday, 02 Apr 2009

Photos of the vandalism were posted on their web site story of this vandalism. Photographs provided by the office of Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

There are eight overturned tombstones in this photo along the cemetery wall at Oak Hill Cemetery.

The newspaper article reads in part:

Police are searching for the person or people responsible for knocking down about 35 headstones at Oak Hill Cemetery in Evansville. Workers at the cemetery discovered the vandalism Wednesday morning. “This act of vandalism is unconscionable," Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said in a statement. "I cannot understand what would prompt someone to commit this type of crime and we will not tolerate it. Our residents should not have to tolerate this type of destruction when they come to visit loved ones who have been laid to rest in any City cemetery." Officials say police will step up patrols at city cemeteries because of the vandalism. The city expects to have the stones uprighted within the next few days.

This "unconscionable" act of wreakless desecreation of grave sites and markers clearly qualifies the individuals responsible for this cowardly (in the dark of the night) immature and foolish distruction for the

"TSGS Dock of Shame!"

- Submitted by JGWest (Photos furnished by the Mayor's Office as posted on the Evansville Courier & Press web site.)