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Family saddened by graveyard vandalism

Friday, February 20, 2009
Nevada Daily Mail

The graves of Coleen and Amanda Shadden as they looked on Valentine's Day, before being vandalized that night. An angel was stolen, and roses and stolen lights in the foreground were damaged. --Submitted photo

On Feb. 14, 2009, vandals desecrated the graves of Coleen Shadder, 5, and Amanda Shadder, 11, in Moore Cemetery. Both girls were killed in a Dec. 10, 2008, house fire. The girls' father, Ronnie Shadden of Arma, Kan., had been to their graves on Valentine's day to keep the grave sites in order. "We always make sure things are perfect up there," Shadden said.

Returning the next day, Shadden and his wife Elizabeth were saddened and heartbroken to discover that both graves had been vandalized, and some of the items placed on the graves had been stolen. A fiber optic angel and two solar powered night lights placed there to create some light had been stolen as well. Shadden just couldn't understand why anyone would take a fiber optic angel that cost a him a mere $5.

This type of activity has become all too common. The perpetrators do not consider how their actions may affect the still grieving family members, Shadden said.

This incident "has hurt the hearts of me, their brother and sister and everybody in the family," said Shadden. The two dozen red roses left there the day before had their blooms plucked off and all that was left were the bare thorny stems. The blackening stems are still there. The solar powered lights have been replaced, and it took a lot of driving to a number of different cities, but a new angel has finally been located by a family friend.

Shadden said he contacted the Vernon County Sheriff's Office; and they went out there and took a look around, but there wasn't much they could do. He understands that they have a lot of area to cover. Shadden had no idea what else was done, "I don't even want to think about it," he said. He said that whoever would do such a thing must have some problems of their own. "They know who they are," he said, "I will keep praying for them."

Comments

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I think that if the person that did this is reading this you may need to have your head examined. You have to have some issues to vandalize a grave in the first place, but to do it to a child grave is even worse.

They are only hurting the family that is left here when they do stuff like that.

To the family: I am greatly sorry for your loss and sorry that someone was so inconsiderate of your feelings.

-- Posted by nevadian on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 9:11 AM

This is so sad!! I am so sorry this happened to your family. ):

-- Posted by ccmom on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 10:01 AM

WHAT THE HELL!!

That has got to be the lowest thing a person could do in their lives. This is the grave of a loved one, and to have those who are still here come back to visit, and help gain some peace in their lives, must see that some deranged jackass violated the space of their loved one is just out of this world.

Who ever did this should be buried alive and suffer the same fate as those who are here to live with the memory of a resting place violated such as this!

-- Posted by mcb on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 10:13 AM

this is absolutley appaling. why would someone want to do this? i agree. the person needs there head examined. karma will get them.

-- Posted by concernedcitizens on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 1:05 PM

This is Totally disrespectful and I wish they could catch the 1 or ones doing this and throw them in jail and throw away the key. Or better yet make them dig graves by hand with a shovel for awhile then maybe they would stop and think before doing anything like this again to a cematary.This is tottaly apalling to me that anyone would or even could do anything like this to someones loved one that has passed.But I know how they feel because someone did this to my sisters grave out at Metz a few years back and they still haven't been caught.They never will be. But they will get theirs in the end at judgement day.

-- Posted by simplenana on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 2:10 PM

TO THE GUILTY PARTIES I HOPE YOU GET WHAT IS COMING TO YOU HOW DARE YOU STEAL AND VANDALIZE A GRAVE LET ALONE A GRAVE OF LITTLE CHILDREN I HOPE UR CAUGHT AND PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE

TO THE SHADDEN FAMILY IM SO SORRY FOR WHAT THESE UNCARING JACKASSES HAVE DONE TO UR LIL ANGELS GRAVES IT IS SO TOTALLY UN CALLED FOR

-- Posted by janetmills66 on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 9:50 PM

I can not beleive that anyone could do this and live with the guilt that you done this to these precious little girls grave.

I lost my son and I cannot imagine how the family feels. Do you have any idea how this hurts them this is the only place that the family can come and feel that you are close to them.

When all you have is the grave where your loved ones are and there is something about the things that you put on the grave that I think unless you have been there you have no idea how it is to have to go to your childs grave to give the gifts that you can no longer give them in person.

I hope the ones that done this get what is coming to them if not here but when your days on this earth is done!

To the family I am so very sorry that this has happened to your presious daughters grave. This is a terriable thing.

-- Posted by ccfs on Sat, Feb 21, 2009, at 9:48 AM

My gut started hurting and my heart sank when I read what had happened to these innocent little girls' gravesite. How disgusting can some people get? Seriously?

I ask, who in their right mind could have done this? And what was going through their mind when they were doing this?

I know the Shadden family personally, and no one deserves this! NO ONE!!

Rest in Peace Pretty girls!

-- Posted by rlb86 on Sun, Feb 22, 2009, at 5:13 PM

My gut started hurting and my heart sank when I read what had happened to these innocent little girls' gravesite. How disgusting can some people get? Seriously?

I ask, who in their right mind could have done this? And what was going through their mind when they were doing this?

I know the Shadden family personally, and no one deserves this! NO ONE!!

Rest in Peace Pretty girls!

-- Posted by rlb86 on Sun, Feb 22, 2009, at 5:15 PM

They where already caught, lets just hope some one does not lower themselves to vandalize there family grave sites or there own! The lord was watching! The girls where probably laughing at the low life's and what they stole will always bring bad luck until they are returned.

-- Posted by jjm5943 on Mon, Feb 23, 2009, at 2:53 AM

I'm so sorry to hear about what someone did your your daughter's grave sites. I too have loved ones at Moore and I can tell you that I had several things removed from my father's grave last summer. The difference---I knew who removed my items. It was done for spike and then laughed about. I am a firm believer that "what goes around, comes around". God Bless You

-- Posted by ALovingDaughter on Mon, Feb 23, 2009, at 6:43 PM

Dear Ronnie and Elizabeth and family,

I'm so sorry for the lost of your children. God knows who did this, and they will have to answer to him. I'm been through a terrible experience in the last six months, I've prayed for the people who did this to me, then I gave it to God, he will now deal with them. Please try to stay strong and know that He will take care of you, He will comfort you now in your times of sorrow. Please know He is with your children now, no my pain, nor sorrow,only peace and love. God bless you.

-- Posted by Kas on Sat, Feb 28, 2009, at 1:42 AM

i loved the girls with all my heart and they didnt deserve to have to leave the world like they did . but no one wants to have to leave that way but how low could some one go to destory a grave of two beautiful girls that didnt wanna have to leave the world the way they did?

*I love you girls*

-- Posted by estes_2008 on Mon, Mar 2, 2009, at 9:28 PM

I have parents and a brother in Moore Cemetery,and lots of friends.

Here in Belton Cemetery, where my husband is,we are having lots of flowers stolen,and our Police think they use them for crafts.

God Bless the Shadder family,we know the thieves will be punished in Eternity.

-- Posted by Verlie on Wed, Mar 18, 2009, at 11:36 AM

TO THE SHADDEN FAMILY

ME AND MY DAUGHTER WENT TO VISIT THE GRAVESITE OF YOUR PRECIOUS LIL GIRLS AND THE HEADSTONE YOU HAVE FOR THEM IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND THOSE GIRLS ARE JUST AS GORGEOUS

GOD BLESS YOU

-- Posted by janetmills66 on Wed, Mar 25, 2009, at 11:03 PM

TO THE SHADDEN FAMILY

ME AND MY DAUGHTER WENT TO VISIT THE GRAVESITE OF YOUR PRECIOUS LIL GIRLS AND THE HEADSTONE YOU HAVE FOR THEM IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND THOSE GIRLS ARE JUST AS GORGEOUS

GOD BLESS YOU

-- Posted by janetmills66 on Wed, Mar 25, 2009, at 11:03 PM