Headstones at Las Cruces cemetery moved to other grave sites

Jenny Escalera was furious when her family discovered her two daughter’s headstones at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Las Cruces, moved to other grave sites.

It appears several other headstones nearby were also moved.

“Very upsetting, because I wish my daughters were here, but this is how I have to come see them. So it hurts me,” Escalera said.

The family discovered the mess last October. Immediately after, the girl’s father confronted St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church, which manages the cemetery about the mix-up, and was told it would be fixed, but it was never corrected.

“They never told us they removed them,” Escalera said.

After confronting the church again Friday afternoon, Escalera was told the headstones were moved because of another burial taking place.

“They don’t care, at least let us know when you’re going to move a stone to bury someone else,” Escalera said.

Abc-7 asked the church why it’s taken so long, but they refused to comment, saying they would only talk to the family.

Meanwhile, the family is left with no choice but to simply deal with it.
They’ve even made a make shift headstone, where one of the girl’s headstone was originally located.

“We don’t know if there’s a coffin there,” Escalera said.

Escalera says she’s not asking for much, all she wants is the headstones to be put back, so she can mourn her daughters in peace.

“Put them where they’re supposed to be. We can come pray for them, clean for them, bring them flowers. It’s the only thing I can do for my daughters.”

The family was told by maintenance workers at the church the headstones would be moved back where they belong on Monday.