Grave Marker Stolen From Grantsville Cemetery

GRANTSVILLE, Utah – A Tooele County widow was shocked to find her late husband’s temporary grave marker stolen.

Necole Anderson made the discovery when she went to visit his final resting spot Sunday.

She had a ceramic square tile made, and it was engraved with Chip Anderson’s picture and dates. The marker had been at his final resting spot since winter 2018.

Chip Anderson died from suicide while being housed in the Tooele County Jail in January 2018.

The couple also lost their 9-year-old daughter, Caessea Lynn, when she was killed in an ATV crash four years ago.

“Our family spends a lot of time here,” Necole Anderson said. “I pulled up and got my granddaughters out of the truck. They stood over his grave and cried, ‘Where is grandpa?’ That’s when I realized it was gone. The marker was gone.”

The couple would have celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary later this month. Necole Anderson visits the cemetery at least twice a week. Family members told KSL TV they want more police patrols through the Grantsville Cemetery.

“The desecration here is ridiculous. Cemeteries are sacred,” Necole Anderson said. “Why would someone do this to Chip? I just don’t understand how someone could be so cruel and mean.”

The Grantsville Cemetery has an ordinance that requires all burial sites to be marked.

“I am afraid if we make another temporary marker, the thieves will come back,” Necole Anderson said. “All I want is for him to be at peace. I wish people would leave him alone.”