Historic Prince George’s Co. cemetery vandalized

CROOM, Md. — Police want the public’s help in finding vandals responsible for tipping 24 tombstones at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, in Upper Marlboro, sometime last weekend.

The cemetery and church date back to 1745 and are on the National Register of Historic Places.

“This is our collective heritage,” Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said. Those interred at the cemetery include soldiers from the Revolutionary War, The War of 1812 and the Civil War.

Calling the vandalism a careless, wanton act, Stawinski said investigators will work aggressively to solve the case, and he encouraged anyone with information or the people responsible to come forward.

Two dozen tombstones were toppled at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, in Upper Marlboro, sometime between last Tuesday and Saturday, June 24. (WTOP/Kristi King) — Two dozen tombstones were toppled at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, in Upper Marlboro, sometime between June 22 and June 24. (WTOP/Kristi King)

"This is not acceptable," Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said. He called the tombstone toppling "absolutely awful" and encouraged the vandals to step forward to take responsibility. (WTOP/Kristi King) — “This is not acceptable,” Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said. He called the tombstone toppling “absolutely awful” and encouraged the vandals to step forward to take responsibility. (WTOP/Kristi King)

The toppled tombstone in the foreground belongs to Prince George's County Volunteer Firefighter Dennis M. Mandragos, who died with two other firefighters in a head-on collision in 1973, according to Dick Bergren, the acting sextant of the cemetery. The standing Mandragos stone is for Dennis' father, who also was with the fire department and was a Navy commander, according to Bergren. "I knew all these folks." (WTOP/Kristi King) — The toppled tombstone in the foreground belongs to Prince George’s County Volunteer Firefighter Dennis M. Mandragos, who died with two other firefighters in a head-on collision in 1973, according to Dick Bergren, the acting sextant of the cemetery. The standing Mandragos stone is for Dennis’ father, who also was with the fire department and was a Navy commander, according to Bergren. “I knew all these folks.” (WTOP/Kristi King)

"The people are wonderful," Penny Murphy said. Murphy and her husband have been parish members since moving to Upper Marlboro 11 years ago. "He kind of scouted the area and we came to this [church] first and never left." (WTOP/Kristi King) — “The people are wonderful,” Penny Murphy said. Murphy and her husband have been parish members since moving to Upper Marlboro 11 years ago. “He kind of scouted the area and we came to this [church] first and never left.” (WTOP/Kristi King)

"This kind of behavior will not be tolerated," Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said. (WTOP/Kristi King) — “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated,” Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said. (WTOP/Kristi King)

“Rest assured that the investigators that work day in and day out to solve every case that you may hear about — are going to be here to solve this case,” Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said. (WTOP/Kristi King)

A fully mature tree growing into the fence outside St. Thomas' Episcopal Church reflects the parish's march through centuries. (WTOP/Kristi King) — A fully mature tree growing into the fence outside St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church reflects the parish’s march through centuries. (WTOP/Kristi King)

"This is our collective heritage." Those interred at the cemetery include soldiers from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War who, Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said, "fought for our freedom." (WTOP/Kristi King) — “This is our collective heritage.” Those interred at the cemetery include soldiers from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War who, Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said, “fought for our freedom.” (WTOP/Kristi King)

"We need your help" @ChiefPGPD sz if you have info on vandals whotipped stones at St. Thomas Episcopal in Upper Marlboro(1745) @WTOP pic.twitter.com/7AeEnpO3F4
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) June 27, 2017

(WTOP/Kristi King)

1745-now St. Thomas' Episcopal-Upper Marlboro remains an active parish @ChiefPGPD to stone tipping vandals "This is not acceptable" @WTOP pic.twitter.com/JSkjKuqOXe
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) June 27, 2017

(WTOP/Kristi King)

(1/11)

Share This Gallery:

Investigators believe more than one person was involved, because some of the toppled gravestones weigh several hundred pounds. After another recent incident of vandalism, in which a BB gun was fired into a building on the property, church leaders began to consider adding surveillance cameras.

“A church is supposed to be open to the public,” church senior warden Steven Kensinger said. “The thought of having to lock gates or install video cameras has never been on our forefront, but [it] will be now.”

Kensinger said it appears none of the damage will require historical restoration. He expects insurance will cover the cost of putting the monuments upright.

St. Thomas’ is the second-oldest continuously active church and cemetery in Prince George’s County.

“We have services here every Sunday; we still have weddings; we still have funerals — this is not a monument,” Kensinger said. “It’s unfathomable that someone could come in and do this.”