The local NBC news station (WFIE Ch 14) just ran a story about
vandals turning over hundreds of markers in St. Patrick's Cemetery in
Chesterton IN. The story said many of the stones are damaged or
destroyed. Anyone on here in that area?
Two Chesterton residents were taken into custody on Wednesday and a third
was today in connection with the vandalism of St. Patrick Catholic Church
Cemetery and the spree of thefts in the neighborhood of Bailly Elementary
School early Monday morning.
Robert Morris, 18, has been charged with cemetery mischief, a Class D
felony.
He has also been charged with possession of stolen property in an unrelated
case from October and use of a stolen credit card. Morris was in custody at
Porter County Jail.
A 17-year-old boy is similarly facing a delinquency charge of cemetery
mischief and an additional charge of theft after Chesterton Police said that
he stole a statue of the Virgin Mary from a grave site. He was detained at
the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center.
A second 17-year-old boy is facing a delinquency charge of cemetery mischief
as well. He was taken into custody late this morning and was to have been
transported to JDC.
Det. Lt. Dave Cincoski of the CPD told the Chesterton Tribune today that the
break in the case came on Wednesday when Morris-whom Cincoski had been
looking to interview in connection with several other cases and whom he
found staying at an apartment at Barrington Bridge, immediately south of the
cemetery on South Calumet Road-confessed his involvement both in the
cemetery vandalism and in the theft spree. Cincoski said that Morris also
implicated the two juveniles.
In addition to recovering from Morris' residence a radio taken from Sixth
Street in a previous theft, Cincoski said, he recovered as well at least two
items removed early Monday morning from a vehicle parked in the 700 block of
Taft Street: a cowboy hat and a digital camera.
Morris has not yet been charged in connection with the theft spree, Cincoski
said, but "charges are forthcoming."
Meanwhile, when taken into custody the first 17-year-old boy admitted to
removing the statue of the Virgin Mary and carrying it home, Cincoski said,
and that statue was recovered at the boy's residence.
According to Morris' account, Cincoski said, the three of them vandalized
the cemetery prior to the theft spree. They apparently had no particular
motivation, Cincoski added.
"Just because they wanted to. It was on their way to where they were
traveling on foot."
At least 40 monuments and headstones were toppled to the ground at the
cemetery and an initial estimate put damage at $10,000.
Porter County Crime Stoppers made the vandalism its Crime of the Week and
rewards totaling $2,000 were offered for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of those responsible.
Posted 1/19/2006
With an estimate of 100,000 cemeteries in Indiana, getting them registered
is a daunting task. Jeannie Regan-Dinius, Special Projects Coordinator for
the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic
Preservation and Archaeology, is charged with just that task under the
Indiana General Cemetery Act.
Based in Indianapolis, she is gathering information on any property in the
state on which human remains are buried. This includes cemeteries of any
size regardless of ownership of the property.
She visited the Duneland Historical Society on Thursday, May 15 and told of
her work and how the public can help. State law governs cemeteries and with
the Cemetery Registry under the IDNR, policing is done by conservation
officers.
Regan-Dinius encourages the public to alert her office in case of
disturbance, vandalism or looting in cemeteries. In a recent case a woman
called to report that her neighbor had removed gravestones for a
construction project.
Vandalism is a major problem with Indiana Cemeteries and a variety of state
laws now protect cemeteries. She said cemeteries in Indiana contain many art
works and are helpful sources of information for genealogists.
Planned construction within 100 feet of cemetery property must be reported
and approved in advance. In order to visit a cemetery which is reached
through private property, permission must be granted by the property owner.
When questioned about unused plots, she said unless it is specified in the
deed the plot cannot be re-sold without the permission of the owner or his
or her heirs. In the case of the Chesterton Cemetery, the deeds say that a
plot can be re-sold after 100 years if not used. She was asked about
rubbings of grave markers. She said this is not illegal but rubbings do
damage the stones.
Regan-Dinius says many cemeteries in Porter County are listed but she
welcomes information from citizens. The Duneland Historical Society invites
anyone knowing of a small cemetery in Porter county to call with the name
and location and the DHS will work with Regan-Dinius to be sure it is
listed. Call Betty Canright, 926-3231.
Posted 5/19/2003