By Amy Joles
(Contact / Staff Bio)
July 3, 2009 - 09:53 a.m. EST
Click on photo to enlarge
INDIANFIELDS TOWNSHIP — Vandals are getting more bold at the Indianfields Township Cemetery.
Three times within the last month, vandals have struck the cemetery. And during the past week, 60 headstones have been turned over at the historic site - some destroyed, according to the Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office.
“Some of these headstones date back to 1850,” said Ray Rendon, township supervisor. “We are doing all we can, but the ones that date back that far - you’ll never be able to do anything with them.”
During the first vandalism incident, 20 headstones were overturned. Township employees then set the headstones back into their rightful positions.
In the next incident, 22 headstones were overturned.
“The third time, they tipped over 40 and the third time they caused some damage,” said Rendon. “They are dropping headstones on headstones to break them.”
Some of the tipped headstones weigh in at 500-600 pounds, indicating that there is more than one culprit causing the damage.
In addition to the headstones, the vandals broke flower pots and crosses.
Rendon said the township must now attempt to contact family members to tell them that their loved ones’ graves have been vandalized.
“It’s the families’ cost to repair them,” he said. “We’ll do everything we can to get in touch with them, but some - the ones that date back to 1850 - they may not be around.”
The Tuscola County Sheriff Office is investigating the malicious destruction to property. The township has asked the department to do more drive-bys in an effort to catch the vandals.
The Michigan State Police have also responded for damage to cemetery property.
Rendon said the cemetery has never experienced this type of problem before.
“This just doesn’t happen here,” he said.
Anyone having information as to who is involved should call Sgt. Ted Hull at the Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office at (989) 673-8161, ext. 2231
Amy Joles is the editor of the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at joles@tcadvertiser.com.
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