A Johnston County man is accused of vandalizing a tombstone at a Benson cemetery then paying for the repairs before being arrested.
Last Friday, Benson Police responded to a cemetery on North Wall Street after a relative discovered a tombstone belonging to a family member had been intentionally overturned.
The suspect in the case, 23 year-old Stephen Foster Langdon of W. Parrish Street, Benson, allegedly admitted during questioning at the Benson Police station on Monday to damaging the grave marker last Thursday night. Langdon reportedly told police he was drunk when the incident occurred.
According to a police report, Langdon told investigators he returned to the cemetery on Friday and tried to repair the damages but became scared and left.
On Tuesday, Langdon surrendered to Benson Police at the Johnston County Jail and was charged with felony disturbing a grave marker. Police said he gave an officer a receipt for $266 where he had paid for repairs to the tombstone.
A motive for the incident was not released but police indicated the suspect was acquainted with the victim’s family.
