Vandals wreak 'devastating' havoc at Modesto cemetery

Bee Staff Reports

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Vandals damaged at least 75 tombstones at the five cemeteries along Scenic Drive in Modesto, according to the Modesto Police Department.

�Some of the tombstones have been pushed over, others have been damaged and cracked after they were pushed over,� Modesto police spokesman Brian Findlen told Sacramento TV station KOVR (Ch. 13). "This is a horribly disrespectful criminal act. Hopefully somebody will step forward to give us the information we need to make an arrest."

The damage was discovered Sunday morning by Glen Poteet, a board member on the Modesto Cemetery Association who was out doing restoration work at the property, which is home to Modesto Citizens Cemetery, Acacia Memorial Park, Modesto Pioneer Cemetery, St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery and the Stanislaus County Cemetery.

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Did you have a relative whose tombstone was vandalized? If so, please call Bee reporter Emilie Raguso at 578-2235 or e-mail eraguso@modbee.com.

"As a volunteer who puts in a lot of effort, it�s pretty devastating," said Poteet�s wife, Pat, who is a treasurer for the organization. "And as a family member, it�s like having to create this grief all over again. You spend a lot of time thinking about that marker. Then to have to see that somebody took so little care ... it�s just heartbreaking."

In an interview with The Bee, Pat Poteet estimated that about 40 or more tombstones were damaged at Modesto Citizens, and at least 10 at Modesto Pioneer and possibly more at St. Stanislaus. She said there were workers out this morning still trying to survey the damage.

She said some of the markers were tipped, and also said it appeared that vandals threw bricks at some of the cement vases that are part of the older headstones.

Members of at least one family whose plot had been damaged were out this morning trying to make repairs, Poteet said.

Each headstone could be worth at least $500, Findlen said, and any suspects would face felony charges.

For more on the story, check back later at www.modbee.com, and read Tuesday�s Bee.