Vandals deface graves in Wasilla cemetery

WASILLA -- Residents of Wasilla's cemetery have been receiving unwelcome visitors in recent months, city police reported last week.

Vandals have been defacing headstones, throwing crosses onto the ground, knocking over flowers and breaking ornaments, according to a complaint filed with the police by Wasilla's Department of Parks and Recreation.

Wasilla Parks and Recreation Director Ken Langlois said his turf crew has consistently seen headstones tipped over through most of the summer. Figurines and other items set next to graves have been smashed to pieces, and some of the bigger wooden crosses have been broken.

"It hasn't happened for the last week," Langlois said. "But every week or 10 days for the last two months there have been incidents."

Wasilla's Parks and Recreation crew members have been able to repair the damaged headstones so far, Langlois said, as most of the vandalism has not affected larger headstones and monuments set in concrete.

Anyone with information regarding the vandalism is asked to call the Wasilla Police Department or the Mat-Su Crime Stoppers at 745-3333.

Contact John Davidson at john.davidson@frontiersman.com.