Mt. Thabor Cemetery Vandals Turn Out to be 13-Year Olds, “Boredom” Motive
A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department:
On March 25, 2012 at approximately 5 p.m., two (2) unidentified juvenile males were observed damaging headstones in the Mount Thabor Cemetery located at 2700 Mount Thabor Road in Crystal Lake, IL.
A McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol was notified by a passerby of the incident and responded to the scene.
Upon arriving, the Deputy observed two male juveniles fleeing the area and initiated a foot pursuit but was unable to apprehend the offenders.
In the days following the incident, an investigation ensued and suspect information was developed during a neighborhood canvass conducted in the Bryn Mawr Sub-Division.
On March 30th, police spoke with two thirteen year old male juveniles who subsequently admitted to being responsible for the damage. The juveniles, one who is a resident of Crystal Lake and the other, a resident of Woodstock were both charged under the Cemetery Protection Act 765ILCS 835/1(b) Class 2 Felony and 765ILCS 835/1(b-5) Class 4 Felony.
In total, seventeen tombstones had been either knocked over or damaged by the two juveniles causing an estimated $3,300 in damage.
Both juveniles will be referred to McHenry County Court Services and petitioned into Juvenile Court.
According to the offenders, their motivation for committing these acts was “boredom”.
