Dozens of graves vandalized at southern Indiana cemetery

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- Police are investigating after dozens of graves were vandalized over the weekend at a historic southern Indiana cemetery.

Twenty-eight headstones were damaged or destroyed Friday night at Eastern Cemetery, which dates back 161 years. Some markers weighing more than 600 pounds were knocked over, while others were vandalized with smashed alcohol bottles.

For families with loved ones buried there, the discovery was heartbreaking.

"It hurt my heart. It really hurt my heart," said Betty Shaw, whose mother's grave was among those damaged. "Disrespect. Disrespect for the dead."

Michele Jackson's monument company spent Monday repairing what they could. Jackson said the work will take several days, because the monuments need to be cleaned, reset and leveled.

"It would have to have been at least four or five of them if that is who did it," Jackson said, noting that many of the heavy markers would be too much for one person to move alone.

The cost of the damage is estimated at more than $80,000.

"I just don't know what it is in a person's mind and heart to do something like that," Jackson said.

Shaw said she believes whoever is responsible will face consequences.

"Karma comes to bite you in the derriere," she said. "So whoever done it — karma's going to get ya."

Police haven't named any suspects.

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