Repeated theft reported at cemetery in Henderson County
DARDEN, Tenn. – A concerned mother speaks out about being the apparent victim of cemetery theft.
While visiting the Darden Cemetery on Christmas Eve night to decorate her deceased daughter’s grave and take a Christmas picture, Mary Martin noticed something was off about the grave.
“And as soon as I walked up, I noticed one of her bouquets was gone and I immediately was like, ‘Well maybe the wind blew it off’” Martin said. “But I noticed everything else was in place and it didn’t make any sense.”
Martin said when she started looking around at other tombstones, a few had things missing as well. When she got home that night, she said someone reached out to her and confirmed her suspicions.
“Somebody had contacted me and was like, ‘I want to give you a heads up because we have been hearing that the Darden Cemetery has been targeted for kids getting their stuff stolen,’” Martin said.
Martin began searching on Facebook where she found another individual named Brandy Fisher, who had the same thing happen to her son’s grave. Fisher even said in her post she would give a $1,000 reward to whoever had information on a potential suspect.
“It’s sad. It’s horrible. I don’t understand it in general, stealing off someone’s grave but to steal off of children?” Martin said.
After speaking with others who had their decorations stolen, Martin decided to take the matter to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. After speaking with them, they agreed to do extra patrols around the area. Martin says that if she could speak to the person directly, she would tell them that she’s hurt that they did this. But as a Christian, she would forgive them.
If you also have been a victim of grave theft at the Darden Cemetery, call the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office at (731) 968-7777.
We also reached out to the association that operates the cemetery and they are in talks of putting up cameras to prevent theft and vandalism.
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