http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/local/13068759.htm
Posted on Thu, Nov. 03, 2005 Vandals disturb 156-year-old cemetery BY BETH HUNDSDORFER News-Democrat CASEYVILLE - Vandals toppled headstones and constructed a makeshift altar for satanic worship on Halloween night at Caseyville Cemetery on Hollywood Heights Road. A police detective on Tuesday morning discovered seven damaged headstones and the altar marked with Satanic symbols surrounded by flowers taken from gravesites. "At this point, we don't think it was a bona fide satanic cult, but an adolescent attempt," Caseyville Police Chief J.D. Roth said. "However, damage to a cemetery is a felony under state law, so it is very serious." A candle placed in the center of the altar was decorated with hand-drawn pictures of inverted crosses, the devil and the symbol "666." An inverted cross was stuck into the ground. A printed statement on the other side of the candle said: "Father, one day, my dark prince, you will be reborn. Trust your children as we mock the name of God." Russ Wise, an occult expert at Christian Information Ministries of Richardson, Texas, agreed the damage was most likely done by adolescents. "Halloween doesn't mean anything to real Satanists," Wise said. "This seems more like a teenage rebelliousness -- an opportunity to shock the establishment." What religion the perpetrator of the crime followed doesn't matter to police -- they want to find who caused the damage at the 156-year-old cemetery, where more than 30 Civil War veterans are buried. "This is the first incident we have had here in the 26 years I have been on the board," said cemetery association treasurer Bob Stephens. "It's very sad." The Caseyville Cemetery Association offered an undetermined money reward for anyone who provides information to the arrest and conviction of people involved in the vandalism, Stephens said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Caseyville Police Department at 344-2151. Contact reporter Beth Hundsdorfer at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 239-2570. Nephilim's Paranormal Investigations - http://paranorm.cjb.net __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/98XolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Visit our Psychic/Paranormal message boards at http://www.skatemd.com/forums/index.php Arcade, Journals, Chats, Boards, Fun! Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paranormal_stuff/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
