Cemetery vandals a couple of kids

Parents tip off police their children tipped over stones

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — Gardner police now have the identities of the two “very young children” responsible for the destruction of approximately 15 gravestones at Crystal Lake Cemetery two weeks ago. According to a report issued by the Police Department, officers working the investigation were contacted by the parents of two “very young children” who informed them that their children were responsible for the cemetery vandalism. According to the same release, the parents became aware that the children were involved when they found inconsistencies in each of their stories when asked if they were involved. “Basically there were no viable leads at the time and the parents were talking and the two children hung out with each other and through conversations they were having the parents found that the kids had something to do with it,” said police Lt. John Bernard. “We had an interview with both the parents and the children and that is where we’re at.” After the initial investigation, Gardner police were informed that a $800 reward for the arrest of the individuals responsible was being offered through the Municipal Grounds Department along with several individuals and businesses. During the original investigation it was believed that older youths were the likely suspects in this case, according to the release. According to the report, after interviews with the two children and their parents, police determined that the pair of juveniles entered the cemetery on bicycles at some point after school on Sept. 10 and tipped over one gravestone. They decided doing so was fun and moved randomly around the cemetery grounds, tipping over several more. At the conclusion of the investigation, police reinvestigated the scene with those involved and their guardians, and approximately 14-15 stones were identified as the ones they had tipped over. Police said they are taking the young age of the children into consideration, but because of the seriousness of this crime, the pair will be summonsed to juvenile court and charged with vandalizing cemetery property. The parents are not receiving the reward money, according to police. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 9/26/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 228)