A vandal or vandals toppled over 275 grave markers at a Texas cemetery, most of them more than 100 years old and one belonging to one of the city’s first settlers.
The extensive damage at Waxahachie City Cemetery – about 30 miles south of Dallas – was discovered around 9 a.m. on Monday, local police wrote in a Facebook post.
The cemetery was established in 1852, and contains about 10,000 graves.
Among those destroyed was the tombstone of Emory Rogers, who is considered by many the founder of the Texas town, which is marked with a plaque that reads ‘First Settler in Waxahachie.’
‘This is by far the worst case of vandalism we have seen in the City Cemetery,’ Gumaro Martinez, executive director of the city’s Parks and Leisure Services, said in a statement. ‘Many of the markers that were affected are very old, and repairs will be difficult and costly.’
A vandal or vandals toppled over 275 grave markers at Waxahachie City Cemetary in Texas, about 30 miles south of Dallas
Among the tombstones destroyed at Waxahachie cemetary was that of Emory Rogers (pictured), who is considered by many the founder of the Texas town, which is marked with a plaque that reads ‘First Settler in Waxahachie.’
Significant damage was done to historically significant and recent grave sites alike – the town is urging residents not to attempt to right the stones of their loved ones themselves, but to wait for the city to hire a contractor who can repair the markers safely
The Waxahachie Police Department is looking to the public for tips that will lead to the culprit, and are offering a cash reward through Crime Stoppers of Ellis County
The cemetery was established in 1852, and contains about 10,000 graves
The Waxahachie Police Department is looking to the public for tips that will lead to the culprit, and are offering a cash reward through Crime Stoppers of Ellis County.
Waxahachie City Council member Travis Smith wrote on Facebook that the city’s Cemetery Board met earlier this week to organize volunteer cleanup days for the extensive damage, and that the town will be ‘leaning on the experts’ to repair the fragile stones.
‘My gut tells me it was a group of high school-aged kids who didn’t realize the gravity of their action,’ he wrote.
‘For what it’s worth, it didn’t appear any of the headstones were struck with an object, mostly pushed over. My gut also suggests the vandals are more than aware now and we’ll have answers sooner, not later.’
Significant damage was done to historically significant and recent grave sites alike – the town is urging residents not to attempt to right the stones of their loved ones themselves, but to wait for the city to hire a contractor who can repair the markers safely.
But the city’s promise to right the damage hasn’t diminished affected families’ grief.
The city’s promise to right the damage hasn’t stopped effected families’ gripes. Marlena Hernandez posted the damage to her father’s headstone on Facebook
Waxahachie City Council member Travis Smith wrote on Facebook that the city’s Cemetery Board met earlier this week to organize volunteer cleanup days for the extensive damage, and that the town will be ‘leaning on the experts’ to repair the fragile stones
‘To whoever decided to damage the Waxahachie City Cemetery, and destroy every single thing my dad had on his grave, I hope my dad pulls y’alls feet at night,’ wrote Marlena Hernandez on Facebook.
‘There was no reason to do such things to someone’s resting place and a police report has been made. If anyone knows anything or saw anything please contact Waxahachie Police Department.’
Paul Yarborough, whose family moved from Alabama to the area in 1853, has found about 200 relatives buried at the site on Hawkins Street. He told FOX 4 that, although the vandals ‘will eventually get caught… the damage is done.’
‘We heard about the damage so we came out today and luckily we only have one headstone there that was turned over,’ he told the station.
Paul Yarborough (pictured), told FOX 4 that, although the vandals ‘will eventually get caught… the damage is done’
‘We’ve had a tremendous outpouring of support for the community,’ Amy Borders (pictured), a spokesperson for Waxahachie, told FOX 4 . ‘We will get everything repaired, we just want to make sure we do everything right and safely’
‘Grave sites for the living, to come find history… They are just stones, but there’s a history and a story behind all of these families. To me, this is all that’s left of their lives, the story on these markers, and you have just destroyed some of that.’
Councilman David Hill told FOX 4 that the markers were ‘irreplaceable.’
‘You just look at it and wonder, “Why?”‘
A fund has been established to pay for repairs – DailyMail.com could not reach Waxahachie Town Hall to determine how much money has been raised thus far.
‘We’ve had a tremendous outpouring of support for the community,’ Amy Borders, a spokesperson for Waxahachie, told FOX 4. ‘We will get everything repaired, we just want to make sure we do everything right and safely.’
