27°Reward increased for information leading to arrest of Clyde cemetery vandals
Aug 30
2010
UPDATE: Information provided by Clyde Police Chief Bruce A. Gower states: "Because of funds donated by business and members of the community the reward is now up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the subjects."
ORIGINAL STORY: Herbert Smith visited his daughter’s grave in McPherson Cemetery in Clyde on Monday to find a wing broken from her angel statue.
A shepherd’s hook that once dangled flowers over Jennifer L. LeFene’s final resting place was also missing.
The 30-year-old woman died after being hit by a car while on the job as an EMT for North Central EMS in 2000.
Her grave’s counted among the more than 170 damaged by vandals who ravaged burial sites throughout the 10-acre city cemetery on Sunday night or early Monday morning. It was the third case of vandalism in the cemetery in less than a week.
“This is just sickening to me,” Smith said, looking around at the widespread damage, including the toppled veterans memorial.
Dozens of gravestones lay broken and overturned on the neatly mowed cemetery lawn. City parks department workers gathered up broken flower pots and snapped American flags.
“It looked like a tornado came through here,” said city parks and cemeteries superintendent Jim Mason. “At first we thought it was kids, but it takes some pretty big kids to do some of this stuff.”
Mason was so disgusted by desecration of the graves he got sick to his stomach.
Clyde police Chief Bruce Gower said the vandals also pushed over gravestones on Tuesday and Friday nights. The majority of the damage occurred late Sunday night or early Monday morning, as the vandal or vandals randomly overturned dozens of gravestones and destroyed signs, flower wreaths and mementos left by loved ones.
Police estimate there’s more than $100,000 in damage — though they can’t put a price on historical items.
The grave markers in the oldest part of the cemetery are 150 years old or older. The aged sandstone monuments crumbled when they hit the ground. Many Clyde residents have ancestors dating back generations buried at McPherson Cemetery.
Investigators from Clyde police and the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation dusted for fingerprints and footprints on Monday, looking for any evidence that might identify the culprits. They found footprints across the felled veterans memorial, which reads, “In memory of all who served their country.”
“This is a top priority,” Gower said. “We’ll pull all the stops out to catch these guys.”
A reward for information leading to the vandals’ arrest was $2,500 Monday and will likely grow as angry descendants of those buried at the cemetery donate to the cause.
The vandals face serious penalties, including felony vandalism charges. Gower said because some of the damaged graves include military honors awarded by the federal government, the vandals could also face federal charges.
“Spray painting a building, that’s one thing. That can be washed off,” Gower said. “But desecrating people’s burial places — that’s different.”
The damaged graves include that of Roger W. Young, a World War II Medal of Honor winner.
The 25-year-old and 20 other men were ambushed by Japanese soldiers on July 31, 1943, while fighting in the Solomon Islands near Munda. Young was hit with machine gun fire, but advanced on the Japanese position anyway. He threw hand grenades and sacrificed his life to draw away enemy fire, allowing the rest of his platoon to escape.
The vandals kicked over an urn attached to the war hero’s gravestone, indifferent or unaware of the Green Springs man’s sacrifice to his county.
“Even if we can’t catch them, God will,” Gower said.
Reward for good info
Anyone with information on the vandalism is asked to call Clyde police at 419-457-9555. There is a $2,500 reward for anyone providing information leading to the arrest of the vandals.
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05:54 PM
stormy says
Hey, kiddies, don't try this in Milan. Ol' Blackcloud patrols that cemetary at night. He won't call the cops, and you won't see what hit you.
The departed are entitled to respect. Punk-a$$ed vandals are not.
02:17 PM
starryeyes83 says
Meaning the parents' houses , of course. And if they rent, I'd hate to see how they tear that property up.
10:36 AM
starryeyes83 says
If these punks are still minors, I really hope they put liens against their houses and cars and whatever else they can. And I hope the families who have been victimized will protest in front of their homes. Never let them rest. If the punks or their birthers get any kind of state aid - I hope they get cut off for life. May these little lowlifes never ever know any peace from herein. I bet this is connected to the other area ones a couple of years ago.06:00 AM
ragtop66 says
This is such a heart-wrenching thing to have happened. What in God's name can be in the minds of people(?) who would do something like this? There is no respect for anything or anyone it seems and why....because it is not taught anymore. The mindset seems to be...take what you want, do what you want.
I fervently hope and pray that the ones who did this horrendous thing...not once, but three times...are caught and made to pay in every and any way possible for this. They don't seem to realize or care that they have devastated a community and beyond by their stupid, uncaring actions.
10:40 PM
katelih says
Wow a $5000.00 reward . NICE. Cheap ole Sandusky gives $2000.00 rewards for shootings ! I am not saying this situation is less important, I am just saying...
09:49 PM
first of duh month says
Okay, I found it.
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/2008/oct/08/norwalk-cemetery-invaded-bod...
The above was October 8th 2008 in Norwalk (same time of year) for an initiation.
What is it with hillbillies & vandalizing grave yards?
Heck, the plow girls of Clyde are so burly it could even have been them, strong enough to move & break heavy headstones & golems for a cheerleader initiation.
~"No One Here Gets Out Alive" ~Jim Morrison
09:32 PM
twosenseworth says
For the sake of those involved with the desecration and damages caused, I am truly hoping that they have enough sense to come forward and admit their wrong-doing to the Clyde Police, before grieving family members find out who they are and come into contact with them. I see a grim future for any participants who fail to step forward, because as the saying goes, "loose lips sink ships." In a small town like Clyde, and with a handsome reward offered, talk will run rampant. It's only a matter of time.
09:31 PM
first of duh month says
I recall something similar happening at another area graveyard a few years ago (maybe it was near Bellevue or Norwalk). I can't remember if those guilty were ever caught. Maybe if the SR wants to do some investigating, see what time of year the last one was & what town it was & if it's around the same time of year, it may be (like starryeyes says) some sports team. 50/50 it's gotta be goth punks or 50/50 it's some form of stupid school initiation.
Things to do to the guilty when caught:
1. Make them sleep in a mausoleum all winter.
2. Make them volunteer UNMASKED at a crematorium...for 3 months.
3. Scrub hearses.
4. Handcuff them to a chair & make them watch & smell someone being embalmed.
5. Oh yeah, kick them out of school & make them pay $ back.
09:18 PM
rainbow414 says
Absolutely no respect for others, or even themselves!!!! Where will they be 1-5-10-20 yrs from now? Probably taking advantage of the 'free system'.........what sorry human beings these people are. Who set the example for them? I hate to even think of what it is.
08:43 PM
starryeyes83 says
I like that idea, perhaps they should be made to work 40 + plus hours a week and cars sold at auction to pay back every red cent that has been put into those markers over the last 100 years!! And so should their "parents" if the perps are minors.
It could be "goth" or skater rats BUT, it could also be football players, too.
07:36 PM
first of duh month says
The town of Clyde can't be that big. Just look for the biggest goth looking wannabes at the high school...or the ONLY traffic prowling around the area late at night. May the souls of those passed HAUNT these punk ghouls.
Isn't there a caretaker out there?
07:35 PM
Kottage Kat says
inquiringminds,
While an excellent idea, if they were calloused enough to commit this act, what makes you think a funeral would affect them. Just a thought.
07:06 PM
big_d says
*inquiringmind*, now there is a good idea, if they are ever caught, That is exactly what I would do. My wife has had things stolen from her parents graves, even a grave blanket, (made of evergreens) It boggles the mind.06:53 PM
KLM78 says
As someone who has family, including a veteran, laid to rest there, this absolutely sickens me! To destroy someone's final resting place takes a coward. Whoever did this put absolutely no thought into the fact that people grieved over their loved ones, they said a prayer over their loved ones and laid them to rest, with a headstone to mark their lives and to remember them by. These people have no soul or compassion. To not only destroy headstones but to also destroy a veteran memorial takes a special kind of lowlife.
06:17 PM
starryeyes83 says
These punks probably taped the whole thing and put it up on the web. I bet.
They're that bold.
05:01 PM
inquiringmind says
If these individuals are ever caught, they should be made to attend every funeral and burial that is held in this cemetary for at least a year. They need to see the grief that occurs when you put a loved one in the ground. If my child was out on these nights, I think I would be questioning them. Hopefully they can be caught and made to pay for this crime.
12:42 PM
Julie R. says
slick is right-----in this crazy world, one can't even rest in peace. I also like what the Police Chief Gower said----"If we can't catch them, God will." I'm sure HE will, too. Sooner or later.
11:44 AM
Taxpayer says
Not very many adults would take the time to go into a cemetery at night and do this. Only individuals with immature rational choice between right and wrong would venture into such a project. No one really cares until it involves someone from YOUR family. THEN it is a total desecration of hallowed ground. Until the PEOPLE decide to get off the liberal train and make hard decisions on criminal justice, people will keep getting away with MURDER.
11:12 AM
starryeyes83 says
It doesn't take "big kids to do this" all it takes is three or four who are drunk or hopped up on crack.
I really hope these idiots get caught and strung up by their you know whats.
This will come back on them 10 fold.
10:07 AM
madts says
Hopefully their capture will be followed by a court appearance before an accountable judge who sees his ajudicating as one of making offenders accountable. We've over crowded, maximum security facilities that (in this instance) may serve appropriately. Where better to ask, "if it was worth it" than facing one's penance doing 6 months in general population with the state's most heinous fellons stacked like cordwood?
09:17 AM
slick says
If caught, they will more than likely get slapped on the wrist and told not to do it again since the jails are full. Wait till they have to buy a plot, headstone and pay for a funeral and it happens to their loved ones final resting spot, I bet they would want full justice, sick sob's.
Goes to show in this crazy world that you can't even rest in peace.
08:59 AM
Latina43464 says
We need to have more severe punishment. singapore has THE safest place to live if you follow the rules, wanna know why? Because if you steal anything there... they cut your hand off. If you murder anyone there... you are put to death... if you rape.. you are put to death...rapists and molesters will ALWAYS be rapists and molesters. THEY CAN NOT be rehabilitaed. Murders will always be murders. theives always theives. IF they dont wanna live by the law then give them a one way ticket out of this world... Then all of us law abiding citizens can feel safe and we can raise our children in a safe world. It is so freaking simple yet nothing is ever done about it. Evil people are allowed to exist in this world and do their evil things. look at how bad this world is getting. look at all the shootings in sandusky. End of days are coming. May God help us all...
07:23 AM
mikel says
sorry to hear and see this. on a different note..a lot of times homeowners insurance will provide a specific amount of coverage for this.
06:26 AM
ragtop66 says
I hope they catch these sick sobs soon. I've said it before, I'll say it again...they shoould bring back the "chain gang" to the prisons and jails. Take away the free food, medical, dental, vision, education, tv, and etc. Make them work for what they get.
04:48 AM
Americanonly says
I most certainly do blame the legal system for their part in the rise in crime. The reason it's costing so much is because of all the benefits ...tv, gyms,ect... take away all the perks and make it a real punishment to go to jail then maybe just maybe we won't have as many repeat offenders. Also take a look at how kids are raised now .. how many do you see during the summer outside playing? Not very many because they are playing those video games that desencetizes our children with so much blood and gore not to mention the imorality on those games! It seems we are seeing more and more vandalizing and shootings... I sure hope they catch the ones who have done this and I really hope they don't just get a slap on the wrist ! We need more jails like the one in Arizona!! It's a shame when criminals get better living conditions than our troops. By the way TK I would NEVER complain about locking up criminals.
06:37 PM
swiss family says
I do also think that all vandalism, and as far as that goes, all theft comes down to respect.. if people would respect what they have, and particularly respect the things that other people have, the crime rate would have to go down
I do have to ask, when they put the property damage at $100,000 are there that many broken and smashed stones?? from the picture it looks like the stones are just detached, but not broken.. if it would bring down the cost I would be happy to volunteer to help lift and place some stones..of course I couldn't repair shattered stones, and perhaps more people would also volunteer for this, trying to keep the costs down..
I do hope that when they find whoever did this, they are punished with a punishment that will be severe enough to deter them, and any other "wanna be" vandal into thinking seriously about destroying someone else's "sanctified" space..
03:38 PM
tk says
Don't blame the legal system. They work with what they've got. The same people who complain that lawbreakers aren't locked up are the same ones who complain when they are locked up. Until we are ready to foot the bill for incarceration, they will be out.
02:49 PM
Kottage Kat says
This is a respect issue, not being taught to respect the property of others. This is a travesty and the punishment should fit the crime. I can't fathom the mentality, if there is any, of someone who would do something like this.
01:42 PM
Americanonly says
You watch.... if they catch them I wonder what the judge will do..........? smack their little patties and send them home with an ankle bracelet !! If crimminals would actually be put away for a while and not given the comforts of home maybe things would get better but don't hold your breath with the legal system we seem to have now a days. Lawyers getting crimminals off on some stupid technicality or getting them a really easy sentence! It's a shame some people think this is a fun thing to do for entertainment.
01:22 PM
Julie R. says
Now what could anybody possibly get out of vandalizing a cemetery? Sick bast*rds!