COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A third suspect is in custody for the major Coldwater cemetery vandalism that occurred in early March and now all of the trio accused of the tombstone destruction have been charged in connection with the crime.
18-year old Jonathon Siler of Coldwater turned himself in at the Branch County Jail Tuesday and was arraigned in District Court. Siler faces 2 counts of malicious destruction of property $20,000 or more to memorials and tombstones. He has a 10% allowed $100,000 bond with a probable cause hearing May 15t, 2018.
19-year old William Vanness of Coldwater, who is being held on $350,000 bond, is scheduled to appear today in Branch County District Court for a preliminary exam to determine if he should be bound over to Branch County Circuit Court. Both Vanness and 20-year old Christopher Palmerton, Jr., are charged with malicious damage and conspiracy to damage tombstones, both 10 year felonies.
Coldwater City Police say they got an anonymous tip a couple of days following the vandalism to help investigators crack the case in which more than 100 tombstones and grave markers were damaged or destroyed.
When Palmerton was arrested he was living in Battle Creek, where he reportedly moved to from Coldwater shortly after the graves at the Oak Grove North Cemetery were vandalized. Palmerton’s probable cause hearing is set for May 8, 2018.
