Arrests made in Hardin County cemetery vandalism investigation

A series of arrests have been made in relation to area law enforcement’s investigation into reports of theft and vandalism in area cemeteries.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office says their Criminal Investigation Division launched an investigation, “quickly identifying a group of possible suspects connected to the crimes.” Detectives on Monday began collecting physical evidence of stolen and vandalized property from local scrap yards, and on Tuesday detectives conducted interviews with multiple suspects.

Four individuals have been arrested to date: Tomas Bernardo, Gaven Carayoun, Jesse Barcinas, and Joseph Mendiloa, all of Radcliff. The four have been charged with Class D Felony Violating Graves and Class D Felony Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition. They are currently incarcerated in the Hardin County Detention Center, with each scheduled to appear in Hardin District Court on October 3.

The sheriff’s office says more than two dozen reports have been made regarding incidents at several cemeteries, and their investigation remains active and ongoing. Anybody with possible information is asked to file a report with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office by calling 270-765-5133.