CBC News reports that a man has been charged with causing major damages to St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Saint John, New Brunswick.
The man in question, Dana Richard Barltett has been charged with mischief resulting in over $5,000 of damages to headstones at the cemetery. The number of damaged headstones was 330. The crime was committed on April 25, and by July 5 following a tip that was given to police, they were able to locate the man.
Barltett gave his statement to police citing that he had been drunk, angry with an ex-girlfriend, he had passed by the cemetery after returning home from a friend’s house. He decided then to commit the damages in the cemetery.
The cemetery then received lots of phone calls about the damages from concerned loved ones who’s family’s had their graves there. Barlett handed over a letter of apology for the families affected by his actions.
Before the arrest had been made, the mayor, Ivan Court who has his son and parents buried in the cemetery says that the perpetrator should be part of the cemetery repairs, give a letter of apology to the parents and even be made to attend some of the funerals.
The cemetery said that it would cover the costs of replacing the headstones with no cost to the families. Bartlett still remains in custody with his sentencing to be made.