New Information Surfaces In Vandalism Of Jewish Cemetery In Northeast Philly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- New information in the vandalism at Mount Carmel Jewish Cemetery in Northeast Philadelphia is now leading investigators to expand their timeline.
Northeast Detectives walked the cemetery with Bill Doran, a superintendent at Laurel Hill Cemetery for 33 years, who was in the Jewish cemetery doing some work for a family on Tuesday, February 21.
"I came to duplicate an existing stone that was here for a customer and I noticed that all the stones were vandalized," Doran said. "When I got here at 9:30 a.m., the gate was already open and unlocked. I just assumed someone had opened it, and they knew about the vandalism."
The new information widens the timeline of when vandals could have hit. Doran says there's both new and old damage, suggesting this is not the first time it's been vandalized. But he says there's one section, towards the back that he calls ground zero.
"It seems like they had a gathering in that area," he said. "Most of the stones in that particular area are knocked over."
With most of the recent damage in one location near the back of the cemetery, police believe who ever did this could have entered through a hole in a nearby fence.
This has not yet been deemed a hate crime, and investigators say they are exploring all possible options.
The growing reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction now stands at $69,000.
