Several gravestones vandalized at Fredericksburg City Cemetery, cemetery says
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. () — Several gravestones were vandalized at the Fredericksburg City Cemetery over the weekend, leaving $20,000 in damages, the cemetery said in a Facebook post.
Inshared Wednesday, the cemetery said someone entered the graveyard and damaged or toppled at least 15 gravestones, some belonging to former Fredericksburg mayors and others featuring 'ornate religious symbolism.' The incident reportedly occurred on the night of May 3 or the early morning of May 4.
The cemetery noted that heavy rain obstructed the graveyard's security cameras during the incident.
However, on May 6, a Virginia State Police bloodhound team was in town for training when they passed by and saw the cemetery's board filing a police report with the city police.
The bloodhound team worked to trace the suspect's path through the cemetery, confirming entry and exit points behind a wall and through neighbors' properties. In addition, one neighbor reported finding an open gate that was previously chained and closed.
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'This senseless act cut through multiple family plots with no clear pattern, leaving behind significant damage that will require specialized historic preservation to repair,' the cemetery continued.
As a result of the incident, the cemetery, anthat relies on donations, is asking the community to consider donating to restore what was lost.
'We appreciate the community coming together to honor and preserve this vital piece of Fredericksburg's past and appreciate your support and awareness,' cemetery officials said.
As of Thursday morning, no arrests have been made. The Fredericksburg Police Department is investigating.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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