Weekend vandalism at the El Cado Cemetery, located midway between Sedan and Caney on Bronco Road, has left the caretakers and many family members fuming mad.

“We have counted 34 tombstones that somebody overturned,” said Jeanie Brown who works as caretaker with her husband, Tom.

“In some case, the stones were so old that they broke to pieces.”

Brown said it will require considerable time, effort, expense and equipment to lift the large headstones back to their original places and to cement them properly.

She said the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the vandalism and there were clues left at the scene which they hope will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the offenders.

“El Cado Cemetery has become a favorite place for beer parties,” Brown said. “We’ve had to pick up beer cans, bottles, condom wrappers and other items for many years. But why they would turn to such cruel mischief is anybody’s guess.”

The Browns believe the vandalism took place late Friday night.

“We didn’t know about it until Gary Alexander went out to prepare for a graveside service on Saturday,” she said. “That’s when he saw the destruction. It made all of us sick.”

The Browns said they want the word to go out that they plan to press charges and prosecute those responsible for the vandalism.

“We’re hoping someone will read this article and call us or the sheriff’s office in Sedan,” she said.

“And we’ll be keeping a close eye on the cemetery in the coming months, so if you plan to hold a party at El Cado Cemetery, you’ll be in big trouble — you’ll be caught.”

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