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Local real estate developer Tim Harris is offering a $2,500 reward for the arrest and conviction of those who vandalized Fairview Cemetery.

Anyone with information on the identity of the culprits is asked to call the TIPS Hotline, 474-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted online at kccrimestoppers.com. Information will be kept confidential.

Liberty Police Chief Craig Knouse said he hoped the reward would convince someone with information on the widespread destruction to come forward.

“Tim was so outraged by this that he wanted to do what he could do to help apprehend whoever did this,” Knouse said.

Harris said he drove through the cemetery after he heard about what had happened.

“It just made me sick,” Harris said. “It’s a beautiful cemetery and some of those graves date back before the Civil War.”

Harris said whoever participated in the destruction needs to be accountable.

“I thought maybe with a little money in their pocket it might help some one to remember,” he said.

Harris said he had also volunteered use of construction equipment to help move or set upright the heavy stones.

Assistant City Administrator Dan Estes said the city had a monument company do a preliminary inspection of the damage.

“They’ll be able to give us a good overview of what we’re dealing with,” Estes said. “Hopefully, later this week we’ll know the scope of it and see what we need to do next.”

Estes said a lot of people and businesses had expressed a willingness to help, including families that have loved ones buried there.

As a veteran police officer, Knouse said he had seen much mindless vandalism during his career but not to the extent done at Fairview.

Vandals toppled or damaged 176 tombstones in the oldest section of the cemetery late June 19 or early June 20.

“I’ve been a policeman a long time, and I’ve never seen anything on this scale. It’s bad,” Knouse said. “In the end we’ll find out who did this.”

Knouse urged anyone with information to

talk.

“I’d rather be the first one to come forward than the second or third,” he said.

Some grave markers, dating back to the early 1800s, may not be repairable, said Paul Victor, president of Historic Liberty.

Damage could run as much as $500,000, the chief said.

“The community is not going to let go of this,” Knouse said. “It’s too important.”

GOT A TIP

Liberty police are looking for assistance related to the vandalism that occurred at the Fairview/New Hope Cemetery on or around June 20. Anyone having information regarding this incident can e-mail detectives overseeing the case directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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