Family distraught over vandalism in cemetery

The family of Caleb Yurk expend a lot of effort on his grave in Welborn Cemetery. Caleb was 18 when he died last year and his parents keep the grave pristine. They visit every night and replace flowers regularly.

The night of Sept. 18, as always, they left the grave in good condition. Tuesday morning when they visited the grave they discovered vandals had desecrated it. The discovery has the entire family upset.

Tonia Davis, Caleb's sister, said that his grandmother, Ellen, was so upset she was ready to post a reward.

"She said she was ready to post a $100 reward for the return of the missing property and the arrest of the thieves," Davis said.

Davis said a vase which was attached to the headstone was wrenched loose and taken along with two solar lights.

"No other graves were disturbed," Davis said. "There was a cement bench that was taken, it doesn't belong to us, it belongs to the cemetery but nothing else was missing."

In a letter to the editor the family made their feelings known.

"Acts like these are so very disrespectful. Anyone who would even consider taking anything from a grave must have no morals or respect for themselves, or the families they hurt in the process," the letter states. "Welborn Cemetery is a very quiet and peaceful place, so this vandalism is very devastating."

The family is committed to making sure that the episode isn't repeated and plans to keep the area under surveillance to catch the perpetrators responsible.

"Hopefully this is the last of the vandalism we will see at Welborn Cemetery, but be assured that the area will be watched closely and if anyone is caught vandalizing or otherwise, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent," the family wrote. "We do not appreciate this nonsense and it will not be tolerated."

Anyone with information about the missing property is asked to call (417) 667-7148.