Posted 11:55 am Friday, October 23, 2009
'Appalling' Anderson Co. Gravesite Vandalism Under Investigation
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
PALESTINE — The citizens of Cayuga are attempting to heal as Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies close in on suspects that vandalized the community’s cemetery by breaking some headstones and spray painting derogatory and racial slurs on other headstones.
Staff Writer
PALESTINE — The citizens of Cayuga are attempting to heal as Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies close in on suspects that vandalized the community’s cemetery by breaking some headstones and spray painting derogatory and racial slurs on other headstones.
Sheriff Greg Taylor said he was disgusted about what happened and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
Taylor said the incident occurred at the Judson Cemetery on County Road 476 off of Farm-to-Market Road 59 near Cayuga earlier this month and his deputies are fielding Crime Stopper tips daily.
“We are getting a lot of tips and we appreciate the public calling in. We are following up on all of the tips and we now have some persons of interest we are looking at,” he said.
Taylor said the suspects smashed headstones, dragged several into the roadway and spray painted others. Some of the headstones were more than 100 years old.
“It was a very disturbing act of vandalism. Every deputy that went to the scene was upset with what they saw,” he said.
Under Texas law the suspects face state jail felonies due to a place of burial being vandalized. If the amount of damage exceeds $20,000 the charge could be upgraded to a higher felony.
“I’m just disgusted and I find it unbelievable that anyone, no matter the age, could do something like this to a place that is sacred, a place where people’s loved ones are buried. I find it appalling,” he said.
“We are getting a lot of tips and we appreciate the public calling in. We are following up on all of the tips and we now have some persons of interest we are looking at,” he said.
Taylor said the suspects smashed headstones, dragged several into the roadway and spray painted others. Some of the headstones were more than 100 years old.
“It was a very disturbing act of vandalism. Every deputy that went to the scene was upset with what they saw,” he said.
Under Texas law the suspects face state jail felonies due to a place of burial being vandalized. If the amount of damage exceeds $20,000 the charge could be upgraded to a higher felony.
“I’m just disgusted and I find it unbelievable that anyone, no matter the age, could do something like this to a place that is sacred, a place where people’s loved ones are buried. I find it appalling,” he said.
