Vandalism Strikes Mustang Cemetery

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

MUSTANG, Oklahoma -- A cemetery should be a place of peace, but over the weekend the city cemetery in Mustang turned out to be a place of upheaval.

Saturday persons unknown left a trail of debris all over the city cemetery. In dollar terms the damage probably doesn't amount to much. That's not the point.

"A lot of these trinkets they bring out here were one of their loved one's favorite things or something like that, and they like to bring that out and put it on the tombstone and these have been destroyed, so there's a lot of sentimental value whether there's a lot of dollar value or not," Mustang Cemetery Board member Jerry McNeil said.

The cemetery has always been left open to visitors, and there's a reluctance to lock the gates after dark. Instead, Mustang police will increase patrols through the grounds, especially on Saturday night, when vandals usually strike.

In the future the cemetery board may invest some money in security cameras. For right now, though, the board is offering up a $500 reward.

Some people are still unaware of what had happened, 48 hours after the vandalism. But many people are aware.

"Everybody that has come by and saw it has been understandably upset and they all have the same question, 'Why would anybody want to do something like this,'" McNeil said.

Perhaps the reward will uncover the vandals--and the reason why they refused to let the dead rest in peace.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Mustang Police Department.