$60K missing from cemetery fund

SMITHWICK, Texas (KXAN) - A regular stroll through Smithwick Cemetery led Judy Cox past three generations of her family’s tombstones. As she spoke, memories of relatives quickly turned to rage over their burial sites’ treatment.

“You would never dream somebody would do such a thing,” said Cox. “It’s, in my personal opinion, bordering on evil.”

Her husband sits on the cemetery association’s board, which just reported $60,000 missing from its fund. Now, the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case.

“It was discovered,” said Cox. “Things weren’t adding up on the bank statements.”

The cemetery association claims the checks say they paid for lawn care last summer, but that was during a drought, which prompted a call to the lawn care service whose owner says he never received those checks. It was the first clue Cox says led the board to believe one of its own might be embezzling money.

She continued, “Some of the headstones need to be repaired or leveled, which that was allegedly done. But we can’t see much proof of it.”

The money came from the estate of a local couple who wanted to help with historic site’s upkeep. Until now, the biggest concern was letting livestock in.

Nearby resident, Susan Ragland, said, “You would think that anybody who was on the board for the care of the cemetery or whatever would have some kind of vested interest out here, and it shocks me.”

As far back as sixty years ago, the community held cleanup days at the cemetery. Cox said, that doesn’t happen often anymore, but perhaps it should. Now, about 60 people live in Smithwick, but more than 600 rest here. She said it is clear the dead need defending.

“If I had to say something to them, it’s just disgusting.”

Cox said calling on the community for more involvement might provide that necessary oversight. Someday she will be buried here and wants to know someone is watching out for her.

Austin News learned the identity of the former board member accused of taking the money. However charges have not been filed in the ongoing investigation at this time. That person also did not return calls to KXAN for comment.