The De Soto Police Department is investigating vandalism at the City Cemetery, where dozens of gravestones were toppled.
Chief Jeff McCreary said residents reported the damage at 6 p.m. Feb. 18 after they drove by and saw the overturned stones. Police officers found 64 damaged or vandalized stones, but based on discoloration to the stones and moss growing in cracks on the stones, it was apparent some of them had been vandalized some time ago.
“Quite a bit of (the vandalism) was fresh,” he said, adding that he wasn’t sure how many were recently damaged. “We are still investigating. Anyone with information, should call us at 636-586-8891 and ask to speak to the Detective Bureau.”
During the Feb. 20 De Soto City Council meeting, member Rich McCane said he was disgusted about the vandalism, and city leaders agreed to offer a reward for any information leading to the prosecution of the vandals and discussed the possibility of placing cameras in or around the cemetery.
“Also, if anyone would like to donate to the cemetery to assist in the cost to repair the damaged property, they can do so by coming to City Hall (17 Boyd St.), and those donations will be turned over to the city cemetery board,” City Manager Todd Melkus said Feb. 21. For more information, call City Hall at 636-586-3326.
Jake Dietrich, owner of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home in De Soto and one of five city-appointed City Cemetery board members, said he learned about the recent vandalism from social media.
He said he and a couple of other people went through the cemetery on Monday, Feb. 19, and found about 62 knocked over. Of those, 44 have been placed back on their foundations and are either standing or leaning on the foundations.
Dietrich said eight heavier stones will be put back up when city workers cab help. However, he said 10 of the 62 stones are broken.
He said the majority of the damaged monuments date back to the 1800s, adding that the land for the cemetery was purchased in 1871.
The cemetery is home to graves of Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans, he added.
Dietrich said the older monuments, due to the construction and age, are easier to topple than newer monuments.
He said the responsibility to repair a broken stone lies with the buried person’s family members, but it’s difficult to find a relative to contact.
City Cemetery is a large and is tucked away near Mineral and Tenth Streets. Dietrich said it’s kind of hidden, but a lot of people use the cemetery for walking.
McCane said he can’t imagine anything more shameful than desecrating a cemetery.
“Many of the stones go back to the 1800s,” McCane said. “A lot of those monuments are limestone and they’re hard to read at this point’ they’re fragile.”
Dietrich said only four burials were held in the cemetery last year.