It is so heartbreaking to share this link to the "Findlay Courier" online news story, published July 28, 2021, with details and photographs of toppled over and lying on the ground broken 19th century grave monuments.
All that is known, according to the report, is that an unknown vandal or vandals launched the vicious attack seriously damaging grave markers and monuments at several gravesites at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Findlay.
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Excerpt:
"According to the Findlay Police Department, the vandalism occurred overnight from Monday into Tuesday. Thirty tombstones were either toppled or damaged, all in the northeast section of the cemetery."
"The police department continues to investigate the incident, and anyone with information about who may be involved is asked to call the department at 419-424-7150 or Hancock County Crime Stoppers at 419-425-8477. Callers may be eligible for a reward."
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The Ohio Revised Codes that pertain to vandalism at cemeteries is 2909.05
2909.05 [Effective 9/30/2011] Vandalism
(A) No person shall knowingly cause serious physical harm to an occupied structure or any of its contents.
(B)(1) No person shall knowingly cause physical harm to property that is owned or possessed by another, when either of the following applies:
(a) The property is used by its owner or possessor in the owner’s or possessor’s profession, business, trade, or occupation, and the value of the property or the amount of physical harm involved is one thousand dollars or more;
(b) Regardless of the value of the property or the amount of damage done, the property or its equivalent is necessary in order for its owner or possessor to engage in the owner’s or possessor’s profession, business, trade, or occupation.
(2) No person shall knowingly cause serious physical harm to property that is owned, leased, or controlled by a governmental entity. A governmental entity includes, but is not limited to, the state or a political subdivision of the state, a school district, the board of trustees of a public library or public university, or any other body corporate and politic responsible for governmental activities only in geographical areas smaller than that of the state.
(C) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly cause serious physical harm to any tomb, monument, gravestone, or other similar structure that is used as a memorial for the dead; to any fence, railing, curb, or other property that is used to protect, enclose, or ornament any cemetery; or to a cemetery.
(D) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly cause physical harm to a place of burial by breaking and entering into a tomb, crypt, casket, or other structure that is used as a memorial for the dead or as an enclosure for the dead.
(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of vandalism.
Except as otherwise provided in this division, vandalism is a felony of the fifth degree that is punishable by a fine of up to two thousand five hundred dollars in addition to the penalties specified for a felony of the fifth degree in sections 2929.11 to 2929.18 of the Revised Code.
If the value of the property or the amount of physical harm involved is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more but less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars, vandalism is a felony of the fourth degree. If the value of the property or the amount of physical harm involved is one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more, vandalism is a felony of the third degree.
(F) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Cemetery” means any place of burial and includes burial sites that contain American Indian burial objects placed with or containing American Indian human remains.
(2) “Serious physical harm” means physical harm to property that results in loss to the value of the property of one thousand dollars or more.
Amended by 129th General Assembly File No. 29, HB 86, § 1, eff. 9/30/2011.
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Effective Date: October 1, 2020
(a) For a felony of the first degree, not more than twenty thousand dollars;
(b) For a felony of the second degree, not more than fifteen thousand dollars;
(c) For a felony of the third degree, not more than ten thousand dollars;
(d) For a felony of the fourth degree, not more than five thousand dollars;
(e) For a felony of the fifth degree, not more than two thousand five hundred dollars.
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There are 33,468 memorials posted on Find A Grave for the Maple Grove Cemetery in Findlay, Ohio.
