Boy accused of grave crime

By CHERY SABOL

Teen charged with vandalism at cemetery

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead County Sheriff's Office arrested a 15-year-old boy Wednesday for allegedly helping vandalize 74 headstones at Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

The monuments were knocked over Aug. 26. Clues left at the scene led to the arrest of Kyle Trottier of Kalispell.

Sheriff's Detective Travis Bruyer said officers found two disposable cameras, two sacks of alcohol bottles and cups at the cemetery. Pictures from the cameras helped identify some of the youths who had trespassed there.

Trottier, who is on juvenile probation, likely would have to pay restitution if he is convicted of felony criminal mischief, Bruyer said.

Knocking over some of the monuments would have taken a concerted effort by more than one person, said Jim Korn, supervisor of Conrad Cemetery.

"A number of them were very heavy," weighing up to 1,000 pounds, he said.

Some also were very old, dating back to the early 1900s.

The granite base of one of the gravestones was broken in half and a granite vase was broken.

A volunteer effort by local monument companies and others restored the toppled monuments. Korn said they spent about 46 man-hours undoing the damage.

The vandalism upset relatives of people buried at the cemetery.

"There were family members whom I saw with tears in their eyes," Korn said.

They were dismayed at the "general disrespect of everything" that characterized the vandalism.

Korn estimates that restitution could be as much as $7,000, but he doesn't have a damage amount yet.

Bruyer said the vandalism caused "the community to come together. The community was outraged."

He said there may be some relief with Trottier's arrest.

"I hope this will provide some token of comfort and lessen the pain of the loss of their loved one. This disgraceful act will not be tolerated by this community and law enforcement."

The cemetery now has ground sensors to monitor activity after hours.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com