Tennessee man charged with 17 counts of graveyard vandalism

Authorities say Seth Williams caused over $10,000 in damage at Forest Hills Memorial Gardens in Abingdon

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Virginia State Police have filed 17 criminal charges against a 31-year-old Bristol, Tennessee man named Seth Williams after he allegedly drove over gravesites and damaged plots of grass at the Forest Hills Memorial Gardens cemetery in Abingdon, causing over $10,000 in damages.

Why it matters

Graveyard vandalism is a serious offense that can deeply impact grieving families and communities. This incident highlights the need for increased security and monitoring at cemeteries to prevent such acts of disrespect and destruction.

The details

According to investigators, Seth Williams entered the Forest Hills Memorial Gardens cemetery in Abingdon, Virginia early Thursday morning and drove over multiple gravesites, plowing up plots of grass and causing an estimated $10,000 in damages. Williams was arrested and taken to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.

  • The incident occurred early Thursday morning.

The players

Seth Williams

A 31-year-old man from Bristol, Tennessee who has been charged with 17 counts of injury to a cemetery.

Forest Hills Memorial Gardens

A cemetery located in Abingdon, Virginia where the vandalism took place.

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What’s next

The case remains under investigation by Virginia State Police.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a tragic reminder of the need for increased security measures and community vigilance to protect sacred spaces like cemeteries from acts of senseless vandalism.