A 12-year-old and a 14-year-old have been arrested for vandalizing over 50 graves and smashing urns in an Independence Cemetery.

Vincent Spitale, president of the Colonial Cemetery Association, says this is very upsetting for the families as they have to go through the grieving process again. He says so many things were destroyed.

“All the doors on the columbarium were broken expect two, the ashes and the urns were pulled out a thrown on the cement floor.”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged the teens with multiple counts of criminal damage to property, desecration of a grave and simple burglary.

Spitale says all the name plates were broken and the doors will have to be replaced. He says he wishes he could understand why the teens did a heinous act like this.

“Why did you do it? What did you gain from it?”

Spitale says they aren’t sure how much it will cost to repair the cemetery. He says family members of those whose graves were damaged or destroyed came out to see the destruction.

“They just couldn’t believe it. They were crying and sobbing to one another. Trying to console one another at this time.”

 

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