Officials believe Wiedzekowsk acted alone when he committed these crimes. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart says a wide net was cast trying to solve this case and it was through the cooperation of the Des Plaines police department that an arrest was made.
"Des Plaines got info on a completely unrelated case that led us to this person, who led us to the individual we have in custody," said Sheriff Dart.
The vandalism originally took place January 6 at West Lawn Cemetery in unincorporated Norridge. Dozens of headstones were sprayed with anti-Semitic images like swastikas and the Star of David hanging from a gallows. ABC 7's policy is to blur the inflammatory images.
"To see this and to face it and see the disrespect for people who are dead, it's so sad," said Phil Ferkel, Westlawn Cemetery, on January 11.
Thousands of dollars in property damage were done as a result of the vandalism and the sheriff's office now seeks restitution to those graves affected in addition to any fines and jail time that could result from the charges against Wiedzekowski.
"...The amount of damage has gone back and forth.... physically done to these markers. From the get go it's the emotional damage you're not going to put a dollar price on. You're never going to be able to fix," said Sheriff Dart.
