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The headstones
the unidentified homeowner used were never U.S. government
property, never placed at a cemetery or stolen and no state of
federal charges will result, Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed
said.
The homeowner told ABC television affiliate KSPR in Springfield,
Missouri, that he regretted using the headstones, which he found
in a landfill about a decade ago.
Reed said deputies and firefighters removed the headstones
during the weekend at the homeowner's request. The headstones
were crushed and were to be buried on Tuesday afternoon, he
said.
"As soon as I put dirt over the top of them, the case will be
closed," Reed said.
A U.S. Navy veteran in late July posted several photos of the
headstones on Facebook and the U.S. Department of Veteran
Affairs learned about the patio on Aug. 14.
A department spokeswoman said on Tuesday the case was closed.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that a local monument
company had made the headstones, which were inscribed with
names, under a Department of Veterans Affairs contract and
discarded them as defective. Company officials could not be
reached immediately for comment.
"It was poor judgment," Reed said. "I would hope that people
would have more respect for veterans."
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien; Editing by Bill Trott)
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