NYSSA, Ore. - After more than 50 headstones were smashed and vandalized at Hilltop Memorial in Nyssa, the cemetery now says its insurance will not pay to replace them.
Originally, Hilltop Memorial officials believed its policy would cover the damage but say because the headstones don't belong to them, there is nothing they can do.
The destruction is estimated at $50,000.
"They need to check their homeowner’s policy there is a wide variance of coverage and they need to check that first," says Hilltop Memorial Cemetery secretary Sandy Smallwood.
For families whose insurance will not cover the damage, Memorial Monuments out of Meridian is offering to help with replacement costs at a major discount with the purchase of a new headstone.
An account at the Umpqua Bank in Nyssa for "Hilltop Memorial Cemetery Restoration" has been set up to help out as well, along with a GoFundMe account.
No suspects have been identified in the case.
The cemetery plans to install a new fence, gate and a security camera.