Woman Arrested For Damaging Graves At Historic Seffner Cemetery

SEFFNER, FL -- A homeless woman was arrested for removing tomb stones and stealing from graves at a historic church in Seffner.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Channon Marie Clarkson, 35, entered the Unity African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery, 1013 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., W, around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7.

A church employee spotted Clarkson roaming through the cemetery, then pulling two headstones up from the ground. Clarkson reportedly removed engraved templates from several grave sites as well.

When deputies located her, they found several items in her purse that she removed from other grave stones, including angels and flower holders.

After a discussion with the pastor, church leadership and Clarkson, it was determined that this was not hate-crime related. Clarkson, who is homeless, is believed to suffer from a mental illness.

The 126-year-old church is still determining the total amount of damage, but it is expected to exceed $5,000.

Clarkson was arrested and charged with removing, disfiguring destroying or injuring a tomb, in addition to a charge of third-degree grand theft.

Images via Hillsborough Sheriff

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