Wanda English Burnett, Editor

A Jefferson County grand jury brought down indictments last week against four people involved in a fire at the Grandview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in April of 2007.

The four men indicted are: Gary Mefford, 54, Dupont; Derek Jones, 25, Madison; Jonah Long, 26, North Vernon and Warren “Buddy” Brooks, 26, formerly of Madison.

Brooks is accused of starting the fire that destroyed records in the business office of the cemetery. He was indicted on charges of arson and conspiracy to commit arson.

Mefford, Jones and Long were indicted on charges of aiding arson and conspiracy to commit arson. All of the charges are Class B Felonies, which means each person indicted, if convicted, could face up to 20 years in prison.

Keith Mefford, who is the son of Gary Mefford, is the operator for the troubled cemetery. He has not been mentioned in the indictments and said he was advised by his attorney not to comment on the situation.

According to Ripley Publishing Co. files, the fire marshal had ruled the April 1, 2007, fire, arson. At the time of the fire Keith Mefford was out of town.

Keith Mefford later told the Osgood Journal that it was his belief the fire was set to destroy records pertinent to investigations being conducted by the Indiana Attorney General. He said, “It’s sick, but, we suspected this was a possibility so we started copying files.” It was reported the fire appeared to have started in the front office where most of the damage occurred.

Lawsuits have been filed by families as well as pending lawsuits over whether Keith Mefford actually owns the cemetery. It’s a complicated situation that goes back to July of 2005, when Mefford purchased the cemetery and said it didn’t take him long to identify huge problems with the property. The previous owner was Jim Holt, a Madison funeral home operator.

Problems at the cemetery range from allegations of misappropriated funds to improper burials. Several families have since filed lawsuits about the drainage and burial issues.

The controversy over Grandview Memorial Gardens continues with some people who own plots there wondering if their purchase is secure or even if they want to bury a loved one there. A Ripley County resident with ownership in the cemetery said she didn’t know what to do.

According to information in The Madison Courier, Jefferson County Prosecutor Chad Lewis met with volunteers who have formed a committee to help with the upkeep of the cemetery throughout this process to let them know that indictments had been made. He gave them the information on Friday of last week before formal charges were filed this week.

On Monday, formal charges were filed against Gary Mefford on Aiding Arson and Conspiracy to Commit Arson. He posted a $20,000 bond. Trial has been set for March of 2009.

Also arraigned on charges of Arson and Conspiracy to Commit Arson was Warren “Buddy” Brooks. He was already incarcerated serving a sentence on a drug charge.

Charges were expected to be filed yet this week on Jones and Long.

The arson is still under investigated by the Indiana State Police.