Supernatural Research Society of Iowa

People in the southern Iowa town of Centerville said they were heartbroken after vandals ransacked a local cemetery, causing an estimated $100,000 in damage.

Centerville police said they arrested four boys on Thursday afternoon in connection to the case and that all four have since confessed.

Families came to the cemetery throughout the day on Thursday to see if their family gravesites had been among those attacked. Many said they could only shake their heads as an expression of their sadness and disbelief.

“It’s a pretty sad sight to see,” said Centerville Police Chief Tom Demry.

He said it is also sad to think that three 14-year-old boys and one 10-year-old boy could be responsible for destroying more than 160 tombstones.

“I assume it just took them all to knock over some of them,” Demry said. “Some of them probably weigh about 1,500 pounds or more.”

Mary Rosencrats said she had to hold back tears walking through the cemetery after seeing the headstones of many family friends destroyed.

“It just makes me sick in the pit of my stomach,” she said. “I grew up in an age where a cemetery was a place of respect, you know? It’s the last thing you do for your loved one and to just come out and tear it up for no reason? I don’t understand.”

Police said they suspect that the four boys also broke several glass windows in the greenhouse at the wastewater treatment plan. Demry said it could take months to clean up the mess.

“There’s been a lot of emotions that have been out here today,” he said. “It’s a pretty emotional time for people, anyway.”

He said the three 14-year-olds were taken to a juvenile detention center and the 10-year-old was released to the custody of his parents.

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It just makes me sick when I hear of stupid acts of vandalism in any cemetery!  Here are my thoughts on punishment.

Any kid or adult who is found responsible for damaging monuments should not only pay for AND help with repairs but should also be part of the crew who opens and closes new graves

Please share your thoughts!

Vicki