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Published Tuesday, February 17, 2009 in Local
Photo by Jeffrey Leo
Inv. Elaine Jordan of the Coweta County Sheriff's Office examines vandalized headstones in Tranquil Cemetery near Turin.
Vandals do $100,000 worth of damage to Turin cemetery
The Newnan Times-Herald
Coweta Sheriff's Office officials are asking for the public's help identifying the people responsible for doing an estimated $100,000 worth of vandalism in Tranquil Cemetery near Turin.
The historic cemetery, which includes graves that date back to the early 1800s, is located off Standing Rock Road on Tranquil Cemetery Road in a secluded area. Police have deduced that it was vandalized sometime between Saturday night and early Tuesday.
"There is a lot of damage," said Major James Yarbrough of the Coweta County Sheriff's Office. Law enforcement officials processed the scene Tuesday and found that an estimated third of the cemetery was desecrated, or around 50 graves, according to Investigator Elaine Jordan.
A neighbor who frequently walks in the cemetery discovered the destruction Tuesday morning and notified authorities, according to Jordan. Investigators found countless overturned headstones -- some that can be set upright with manpower or machinery, and some that broke into pieces and will need to be replaced.
An above-ground vault dating back to 1853 was broken in two, according to authorities.
"These were people's relatives," said Jordan. "This is so personal -- it's destroying our history. Coweta County is full of history, and we want to preserve it. We need to respect the dead."
Jordan said she spoke with a man on the scene who had five generations of family members buried in the cemetery. The man said his ancestors purchased the land for the cemetery.
Jordan said she plans to get an estimate for the cost to replace and repair the vandalized cemetery.
"If we find out who did this, we're going to prosecute," said Jordan, and the perpetrators will pay for damages. "We know there's more than one person involved, and we're asking for help identifying the people who did this. We would appreciate any information -- please call us."
Anyone who may have seen something suspicious in the area or have any information that might assist investigators can contact Jordan at 770-253-1502.
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Kids have plenty to do...and even if they don't, they should not do CRIME and PROPERTY DAMAGE. Kids can volunteer, go to the library, get a part-time job, play sports, pick up trash on the side of the road, visit the elderly in nursing homes, study for school, rake leaves, cut grass, go bowling, visit the skateboard park, stay home and talk on the phone, etc... There is more to do today than ever before. NEVER DO CRIME!!!
Posted by Child of Johnson at 1:28 AM
It they catch them nothing will be done. They will get lawyers and we will hear the history of there lives of how they were deprived as a child.
Posted by Tom at 12:01 AM
Ms. Spofford... your comment made me LOL. "...I hope they will be made to personally help with the restoration - in chains!" Omg... hahaha thanks for that laugh! I needed it today.
Posted by Torey at 4:57 PM
There is nothing in this county for kids to do. No place to hang out. Where I grew up we could always go to the beach and hang out with our friends without adults around. Yeah there are always the trouble makers (who are always going to make trouble no matter what you do). It is sad that this stuff happens, however, if there was something for kids to do it might reduce these types of crimes. Just a thought.
Posted by Johnson at 12:48 PM
Perhaps people like those in comment 2 are the problem with Coweta County now. When I was a kid growing up in Coweta County we did have morals, so did my children. Sounds as though you and yours are the problem.
Posted by Jennie Adcock at 12:11 AM
Forgiveness is probably the 'Christian' thing; not wishing for punishment.
Posted by me at 11:24 PM
did you mess up a graveyard?it must have not been your family members.When it happens to a loved one you lost then see how you feel.cynthia
Posted by cynthia at 5:10 PM
kids mess stuff up, I did. So did you. Lets not turn this into another Coweta moral issue.
Posted by all the time at 3:20 PM
All who did this should be ashamed of yourseleves.These people didn't deserve this.Anyone who can do this and not feel guilty does not have a heart.I know how these families feel.Some thief stold a harp off my baby girls grave.I pray that Jesus gives all who would be so cruel to do this what you deserve. cynthia
Posted by cynthia at 11:21 AM
This type of disrespect hurts everyone. I hope the guilty persons will be found and I hope they will be made to personally help with the restoration - in chains!
Posted by Sharon Todd Spofford at 11:04 PM
This is just so sad...Why would anyone feel the need to do something so disrespectful...I hope they catch the person or persons that are responsible for doing this soon..
Posted by Sharon Mitchell at 10:46 PM
These brats will get probation (maybe) and they MAY have to pay some of the damages. If you don't teach children respect, naturally they'll show no respect.
Posted by KS at 6:17 PM
I am sure this was a bunch of teens, adults would have too much respect to do such a thing. I hope they catch them and they get punished for this. This is was a horrible thing to do.
Posted by Christine at 3:08 PM
These people must be found. There clearly is nothing sacred to these people and the next step in their feeble attempt to make a name for themselves is to hurt people who are living.
Posted by Tim at 2:37 PM
How much anger you must have inside to desecrate a cemetery. Carrying all that around with you is going to make you sick. You know the only right thing to do is to turn yourself in. It's not going to get any better. And you won't get past this until you make it right.
Posted by Concerned at 1:41 PM
This makes me sick! Let them be caught...they will go to prison.
Posted by John at 1:27 PM
I like to study this county and the people who settled here. These people are disrepectful to society, there is no excuse for what they have done. They need to catch these horrible people and bring them to justice. I also hope the law of commons gives them the out rageous misfortunes they deserve.
Posted by Ron at 12:52 PM
Only the lowest form of human beings would vandalize a cemetery. We should all be appalled at this. I hope they are caught and punished to the full extent of the law!
Posted by Jennifer Miller at 12:22 PM
I hope these idiots are caught. Sometimes wonder what is going through the minds of people who did this sort of thing. My only thought is... God is watching
Posted by Maggie at 12:04 PM
Vandals strike in many ways. My family plot once had a huge cast iron vessel to plant flowers in. After nearly 100 years it's gone stolen by some creep and probably sold to an antique dealer.
Posted by Brian at 11:12 AM
anyone who would purposefully vandalize or destroy the resting place of the dead is a total low life....
Posted by adam at 11:04 AM
What is this world coming to!!!!!!!! No respect!!!!!!!!
Posted by ???? at 9:35 AM
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Link To This Comment
Perhaps the problem with Coweta County are people placing blame on others in order to turn a simple act of vandalism into a big deal. These kids probably had no idea of what they were kicking over, they just wanted to kick some stuff. Kids will be Kids even in 2009 even in our County, and it will never stop. Also kicking stuff is more fun than visiting old folks in a home or picking up trash on the side of the road. ha ha I'm sure that's what you did for fun as a child.
Posted by all the time at 6:10 PM