ALBERTVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Albertville Police are searching for suspects in one of the city's largest cemetery vandalism cases.
Police said over the years they've had a couple of tombstones vandalized but nothing like what was discovered early Sunday morning.
"I was shocked, you know? It's unreal. People have to be low down to do something like this," said Albertville Cemetery Director, Danny Smith.
When Danny arrived Sunday morning to Memory Hill Cemetery and saw the damage he couldn't believe it.
"We went through and counted the stones and we estimated about 45 stones that are pushed over or damaged," he said.
Some tombstones were recent but some old, like that of 15-year-old Eric McCord who Danny said died in the 1908 tornado.
The vandalism has gotten the attention of Albertville Police.
"A lot of people would like to know right now who did it, including us," said Assistant Police Chief, Jamie Smith.
Based on the damages, Jamie said the perpetrators could be facing some serious charges.
"The charges are based on the dollar amount of the damages - including and up to a felony charge," he said.
While the cemetery damage is widespread, Danny said they're documenting which graves were damaged in the hopes of finding the next of kin.
"It's a sad, sad day when somebody does damage to something sacred like a cemetery," said Jamie.
If anyone has any information about this crime, contact the Albertville Police Department.
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