Some visitors to Grandview Memorial Park Cemetery in Ravenna Township are becoming increasingly angry over the poor condition of the grounds.
The grass is getting very tall and many of the graves are surrounded by tall weeds, standing water or mud.
"It shows me that no one cares," said Walter Carrington, who visited the grave of his son, Matthew, who was stillborn in 1968.
His wife, Edna, said the cemetery used to be immaculate but the current shape of the sacred place was enough to bring her to tears.
The couple was also bothered that overgrown vegetation blocks some of the markers of veterans.
"We come out here to see where our son is at," she said. "It's sad. It's sad. I haven't seen another graveyard that looks like this and believe me, I've seen a lot of them."
Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said the owners of the cemetery, Theodore and Mindy Martin, are facing state charges.
He explained that many people pre-paid thousands of dollars for things like vaults and markers at the Portage County cemetery, and at another cemetery owned by the couple in Delaware County.
However, Vigluicci contends much of that money, which was supposed to be placed in a trust account, is missing.
"It's pretty low," Vigluicci said. "I mean, to take money from the elderly, from people who have lost loved ones."
The prosecutor said Theodore Martin is currently in a federal prison for tax evasion, but before he was taken away, he ordered employees to close Grandview.
In response, Vigluicci told funeral homes to continue burials and assured cemetery workers they would not face any trouble for assisting in the services.
Vigluicci also intends to file a lawsuit that he hopes will transfer ownership.
"We have to move the cemetery out of their names and into the township so the township can begin to maintain it," he said.
The Carrington family hopes that happens soon so that dignity is returned to the cemetery.
"I would wish that somebody would take over and clean it up," Edna said.
"Stand up for it and demand that something gets done," Walter added.
