Vandalism Reported at Connecticut Cemetery

Lionel Medina, Staff Writer

A baffling, yet unsettling discovery was made by groundskeeping staff at Agudas Achim Cemetery, located at Waverly Street and Tower Avenue.

While checking for overturned gravestones on Wednesday, November 6th, the staff discovered what seemed to be missing remains from a disturbed grave dated back to 1958.

However, reports state that the remains were taken a few days earlier.

A large five-foot deep hole filled with water and two dead chickens were in the place of the once grave, according to gravedigger Tommy Valetin’s response to NBC CT.

Valentin expresses his reaction to the event stating, “This is the first time we’ve seen this, very shocked to see that it’s a shame.

There’s no respect in this world.

Loved ones are resting in peace and they can’t even be at rest. They have to be bothered.”

Leonard Holz of the Hebrew Funeral Association also commented on the incident noting occurrences of vandalism to cemeteries in the past, however not on the scale of this particular occurrence.

“This is a one of a kind incident,” Holz explained to NBC CT.

Further investigations on the case are being carried out by The Hartford Police Major Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Divisions.

The police suspect that the remains taken by the subject were likely bones. Lieutenant Aaron Boisvert of Hartford Police told Fox61, ‘They found what appeared to be hand-dug grave, other words it wasn’t done by machinery, it looked like maybe shovels, the grave looked like it was disturbed maybe three or four days ago.”

So far no arrests have been made, but those responsible could face charges including desecration and larceny.

Police are examining CCTV footage in the area in order to identify the assailant and discover how many people were involved.