45 headstones vandalized at Belton Cemetery

BELTON, Mo. - Belton Cemetery officials are shocked and saddened after dozens of headstones were vandalized.

The 45 headstones were knocked over at the cemetery this weekend. In some cases, even the foundations were uprooted.

They are valued between $2,000 and $10,000.

One of the headstones knocked over belongs to one of the founders of Belton and weighs 4,000 pounds.

Wilma Benjamin, vice president of the Belton Cemetery Association, said the vandalism is personal.

"It just really makes me mad, and it hurts because we do so much out here, and the people put their money and their family in here and then this happens," she said.

Elmer Larkey, president of the cemetery association, said the deceased's loved ones may have to foot the bill for the repairs.

"Our insurance doesn't cover (the damaged headstones) because they are actually individually owned," he explained. "People buy them, and they're put on their property."

A $2,000 reward has been posted for information leading to an arrest in this case. Anyone with information is asked to call the Kansas City Crime Stoppers at 816-474-8477.