Reward Offered, Leads Sought in Mendham Monument Vandalism

Officials in Mendham Borough have run into a dead end in the investigation into  vandalization of the monument at St. Joseph's Church that was dedicated to the victims of child sexual abuse.

"The vandalism of the statue at St. Joseph’s Church is still ongoing," Ptl. Chris Gobbi said. "Several persons of interest have been eliminated for consideration during the course of the investigation."

As reported on Patch last Friday, an employee of Saint Joseph's Church and School discovered vandalism to a monument on the west side of the church property. The monument consisted of a black granite millstone, two statues of children, and two plaques. The damage is believed to have occurred in the early morning hours of March 7.

The monument was designed and built with a black granite millstone, two statues of children, and two plaques, as a memorial to the victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.  It was originally dedicated in 2004 at St. Joseph's where James T. Hanley, a pastor who has been defrocked, admitted to molesting children decades ago.

The first incident of vandalism of the statue dates back to November of 2011, when police charged Gordon D. Ellis with using a sledgehammer to destroy the monument.

The monument was rebuilt and rededicated last April.

Mendham Borough Mayor Neil Henry said police were appealing to the public for information.

"At this point in time, the investigation is dead in the water," Henry said. "The Mendham Borough Police Department is asking for the public's help.  If anybody saw or heard anything relative to this act of vandalism I would ask them to contact Officer Chris Gobbi of the Mendham Borough Police Deparment at 973-543-2527."

Anyone with any additional information about the vandalism is encouraged to contact the Mendham Borough Police or Morris County Crime Stoppers via telephone at 973-COP-Call (973-267-2255) or online.

Morris Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $2,000 reward for information that results in an arrest.

Mendham Borough resident Patrick Kelly, who said he was one of the men sexually abused as a child at St. Joseph's, urged anyone with information to come forward.

"I’m hoping the reward money will encourage someone to do the right thing and call Crime Stoppers," Kelly said.