Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas

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  • Vandals destroyed or knocked over 80 tombstones in Hopewell Cemetery, some dating back to the 1800s. Detectives have made two arrests in connection with the damage, and their investigation is continuing. Courtesy photo

    Hopewell Cemetery damage

  • Adam Keith French, left, and Michael Hansel Derryberry, right, were arrested Thursday in connection with recent vandalism at the Hopewell Cemetery near Navarro. The case has drawn media attention from throughout North Texas for damage done to over 80 tombstones, some over 100 years old.

    Cemetery arrests

  • Jonathan Lee Moore, 21, Corsicana

    Johnathan Lee Moore

Discussion

March 17, 2010

Arrests made in cemetery vandalism

Suspects linked to damage at Hopewell Cemetery

By Janet Jacobs Corsicana Daily Sun

Corsicana — Three young Corsicana men have been arrested and are being held in connection with extensive damage at the Hopewell Cemetery in rural Navarro County, according to sheriff’s deputies.

Adam Keith French, 19, Michael Hansel Derryberry, 19, and Jonathan Moore, 21, were taken into custody on Wednesday. They are expected to be arraigned Thursday  morning on felony charges of criminal mischief in excess of $20,000, according to Det. Hank Bailey.

They were tracked down from evidence left at the scene, Bailey said.

“Then, making contact with the suspects and them telling us what happened,” he said. “It really helped that they read it in the newspaper. One of them told me he broke out in a sweat when he read it in the newspaper.”

The young men allegedly went to the cemetery to drink, and then became destructive.

“Teenagers seek out places to party in pastures and wherever,” Bailey said. “That’s a pretty well-known place. Kids have been going out there and partying for years. It’s a place we check regularly, but we can’t be there all the time.”

None of the suspects are employed, Bailey said.

More than 80 tombstones at the cemetery were either broken or dislodged, some dating back to the 1800s. Preliminary estimates of the damage were $50,000.

Pete Goodin, president of the Hopewell Cemetery Association said he is getting up a group of workers to set up the smaller stones Saturday, but the larger ones may need to be picked up with a backhoe.

Community service workers with the Navarro County Adult Probation Department are also going to work there Saturday, Goodin said.

“Weather permitting,” Goodin added.

     —————

Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “Soundoff” on this story? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com



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