Families with loved ones buried at Mission Burial Park on Southeast Military Drive are speaking out after discovering what they believe are wild hogs tearing up the South Side cemetery grounds.
Analiesa Montoya said she and her family couldn’t find her father’s grave marker Tuesday until she swept away dirt covering it. The family learned about the damage through social media.
“I’m a little, I don’t want to cry, frustrated, I guess, you know, I just don’t like him being covered up like that,” Montoya said.
“His grave was completely covered,” added Judy Knievel, Montoya’s family member.
“I just feel like a little disrespected in a way. He deserves better than that,” she said.
A walk through the cemetery revealed grass roots that appeared to have been pulled over grave markers. A cage was also found near the back of the park, believed to have been used to trap wild animals.
Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries staff declined to comment when approached at the front office. The cemetery has not responded to three emailed requests for comment.
While the cause of the destruction has not been confirmed, families say they want Mission Park to communicate openly about what is happening and what steps it is taking to fix it.
David Thompson visits his wife’s grave every day. He said he has watched the problem grow week after week — and has even taken it upon himself to clean up the mess.
“Around eight o’clock I’ll say I kiss my wife’s picture, go by and leave. Say ‘I’ll see you in the morning,’ and I drive out here; and it’s dark, and there’s no pigs,” Thompson said. ”When you come in the morning, ground is torn up and a week goes by. Another week goes by, then I get mad, and I just get the rake and start cleaning myself.”
Thompson said the fix could be straightforward — add new fencing around the property and help families keep the grounds clean.
“If they see it messed up, why don’t they stop and clean it? Instead of driving by day after day and just leaving all the stuff piled up, this big old mess,” he said.
Knievel said she hopes the attention brings change.
“Hopefully maybe by you guys doing what you’re doing, too,” Knievel said. ”They’ll get out here a little more often to check the area, you know, and realize, you know, people are hurting, too.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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