Nov 23, 2018 2 min read

A Monessen woman is facing multiple felony charges after a groundskeeper discovered “a significant amount” of vandalism at Grandview Cemetery in Monessen.

Burial plaques and American flags were knocked over and flower arrangements were destroyed over the weekend. The damage was discovered Monday.

Vinyl chairs at the mausoleum had the phrase “Karma’s a bitch” carved into them, as well. In the criminal complaint, Monessen police called it “an appalling amount of damage,” and said it was more than $1,000 of damage to the Rostraver Street property.

Amy M. Large, 43, of 223 Lenawee Avenue, was charged by Monessen police with burglary, institutional vandalism of a cemetery, intentional desecration of a public monument, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.

Police said they found several pieces of evidence at the scene that led them to arrest Large, including a bra, blood, a puddle of urine, a screwdriver and a set of silver rings. One of the rings had the names “Amy” and “Erik” engraved on them.

Police then interviewed Erik Harter, Large’s ex-boyfriend, who reportedly identified the rings as belonging to Large. Harter told police that on Sunday, Large was at his father’s house on Pennsylvania Boulevard in Monessen and carved the same phrase, “Karma’s a bitch,” into the side of his father’s truck. Police said the writing matched the vandalism in the cemetery.

Large was arrested Monday evening. She also was charged with criminal mischief relating to the damage to the truck.

Police said they are in the process of notifying the families whose property had been destroyed.