Whitman Police are seeking the public’s assistance as they investigate the vandalism of 67 gravestones at Colebrook Cemetery. The damage was discovered and reported by a citizen Sunday morning. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos
WHITMAN — Police are investigating the vandalism of more than five dozen gravestones at Colebrook Cemetery. At 11:06 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 4, a citizen reported to the Whitman Police Department that gravestones had been knocked over at the cemetery located at 45 Essex St. A cruiser was dispatched to the
cemetery and the officer who responded requested that the Plymouth County Sheriff’s BCI Unit be called to respond to the scene for photographs of the damaged and knocked over gravestones. There were no fingerprints on the gravestones due to the inclement weather last night.
A total of 67 gravestones were knocked over and damaged. One of the gravestones knocked over was the family gravestone of First Lt. John R. Fox who was with the 366th Infantry regiment’s 598th Field Artillery Battalion during WWII. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1982 and the Medal of Honor in 1997. Lt. Fox’s grave marker is set flush to the ground and therefore it was not damaged.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the Whitman Police Department at 781-447-1212.
