Elizabethtown woman indicted after alleged vandalism at World War II Memorial
WASHINGTON – An Elizabethtown woman is formally charged in connection with reported vandalism of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, an indictment was returned Aug. 27, formally charging 41-year-old Melissa Farris of Elizabethtown with one count of destruction of a veterans’ memorial and one count of destruction of government property.
“The World War II Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the courage of 16 million Americans who served during World War II and the ultimate sacrifice of the 405,399 who gave their lives defending our nation and the freedoms we hold dear. Defacing it is an affront to their service and sacrifice,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will use every tool available under federal law to ensure this conduct is met with justice.”
A court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3, officials say.
According to a criminal complaint filed on Aug. 14, officials say police were called around 2 p.m. on Aug. 13 regarding a disorderly person. A witness allegedly told law enforcement they saw a woman “spray painting graffiti on a portion of the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion of the World War II Memorial at the eastern end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.”
According to officials, a United States park ranger arrived to the scene. Multiple people were gathered around the balcony, watching the woman video herself, officials say.
The woman allegedly fled when she saw the ranger.
Officials say orange and green paint had been sprayed onto the wall, along with pink paint splattered on the ground.
According to officials, a witness took a photo of the woman defacing the memorial. Officials say one officer recognized her as “someone police had arrested on Aug. 10 for unlawfully camping on federal property near 18th Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW.”
On Aug. 10, officials say Farris was being arrested and livestreamed the event over social media, falsely identifying herself.
According to officials, investigators discovered Farris had recorded several livestream videos on Aug. 13. In one of the videos, officials say she admitted to damaging the World War II Memorial.
The attorney’s office says the memorial “honors the 16 million American service members who served during World War II, the millions more who supported the war effort from the home front and the 405,399 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war.”
