Investigators continue to look into the cause of damage to a gravestone

Posted: Sun, Dec 29, 2019 1:04 PM

On February 5th, 2018, a traffic accident on County W-40 took the lives of two teenagers--17-year-old Avery Arneson and 13-year-old Aiden Arneson. The two were buried in a cemetery in rural Winneshiek County.

Earlier this month, the gravestone on their cemetery plot was found lying on the ground. Recently the headstone was put back on the base and is standing upright. The mystery of what happened to it continues, however.

The question was immediately asked about who could have done something so heartless, cruel and senseless. But a possible alternate explanation is that the gravestone might have come off the base because of what is called "stone walking," which is what happens when moisture gets between the base and freezes and thaws, expands and contracts, and thus the gravestone, which is highly polished, walks off the base.

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate whether the gravestone was damaged by vandals, but so far the investigation has not reached a conclusion. The public is being asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at (563) 382-4268 with any information about the gravestone.