ROME, Ga. — It could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair a Confederate statue in Rome that someone de-faced.
The soldier has stood at the historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery since 1887 up until now. It's gone, undergoing repairs before it can be returned.
The community here was in shock that someone would desecrate such an important part of a historic cemetery.
“It was very deliberate damage,” said city manager Sammy Rich.
Officials said someone bashed in the face of the confederate soldier and sawed off the hands and rifle.
“It seems to me likely it could be an outsider with an attempt to create a stir,” Rich said.
Rich told Channel 2’s Matt Johnson it's the most elaborate act of vandalism in the cemetery's 160-year history.
“It does appear they used a ladder to gain access to the statue and presumably tools, based on the damage that was done,” Rich said.
City workers removed the statue last week after they discovered someone had defaced it.
Officials believe it happened either Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
“I used to play around on that hill all the time,” said resident Robert Williamson.
Williamson has lived across the street from the statue for nearly 50 years and said he can't believe someone would damage a city landmark.
“It’s bad on the community, some people come from miles around just to see that statue,” Williamson said.
Rome police have added patrols near the cemetery in case this turns out to be more than an isolated incident.
“Hopefully this isn't the first of more to come we certainly hope that's not the case,” Rich said.
There's no official tally on how much it'll cost to replace or repair it but it could cost up to $200,000.
Cox Media Group
