Indiana cemetery dating to 1800s hit by vandals

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Dozens of gravestones and monuments have been overturned or broken at a Central Indiana cemetery dating to the 1800s in what police say is despicable act of vandalism.

The widespread damage at Sandhill Cemetery on the eastern edge of Columbus was discovered Sunday morning after a motorist drove over remnants of the gravestones.

Bartholomew County sheriff’s Maj. Todd Noblitt tells The Republic that headstones placed from 1829 to 1912 have been damaged recently and about five of them were thrown into the street going past the cemetery.

Clay Township board chairman Mike Champlin says more than one person must have been involved to knock over some of the cemetery’s large monuments.