Las Vegas, NM - Vandals Overturn 29 Headstones of Jewish Cemetery

Katrina and Michael Immerman pause for a moment Tuesday at the grave site of their son whose headstone was knocked to the ground
















Las Vegas, NM - Someone knocked over gravestones inside a Las Vegas cemetery, some dating back several years.

A caretaker of the Montefiore Cemetery says 29 headstones were overturned or destroyed between June 28 and July 1. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that some of the headstones were erected in the late 19th century.

The Montefiore Cemetery, named for the British Jewish philanthropist Moses Montefiore, was established in 1881 on land that originally was part of the adjoining Masonic Cemetery. Today, it has 80 to 90 graves.

Some local residents believe it was a hate crime since the vandalism occurred in a Jewish cemetery.

Las Vegas Police Chief Christian Montano says there’s nothing to indicate it was a hate crime.

The chief believes it was just some juveniles acting up.