Waxahachie, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – Waxahachi police are searching for those responsible for damaging hundreds of graves inside the city’s historic cemetery.
City officials said this was the worst case of vandalism in the city so far.
A year ago, Marlena Salazar lost her father. He was a beekeeper and his family worked very hard to build a beautiful cemetery to pay tribute to him.
“We meet once a month and we spend time with him and then come here and see.. and even the kids, the kids were with us and they were like why did he do this to Grandpa?” he said.
On Monday morning, February 28, he found his father’s grave destroyed.
“I don’t understand why?” he said. “What benefits do they get, and not just my dad – the older guys?”
About 300 gravestones are damaged in the Waxahachee City Cemetery, established in the 1850s. The incident is believed to have happened between last Saturday and Monday morning.
“It’s really devastating,” said Peggy Crabtree, president of Waxahachee City Cemetery. “It looks like a tornado went through the cemetery.”
Several members of the Crabtree family are also buried here and some of their headstones are also damaged.
This morning they discussed the repair.
“Please don’t come out and start working,” she said. “The grave stones are heavy, they are big.”
“We’re still trying to figure out what’s the best way to repair them and we’re leaning on expert advice for that,” said Amy Borders, director of Waxahachie Communications.
Many damaged headstones are over 100 years old so repairs are expected to be difficult and expensive.
“The The city has a website, Please donate if it touches your heart,” said Crabtree.
“I’m first hoping that whoever did it knows how much they messed up. It’s not a joke. It’s not funny,” said Salazar. “We hope they know what they hurt “