For Immediate Release
January 22, 2025
A Kansas City man has been charged with three felonies in connection to a damaged gravesite headstone in South Kansas City, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced today.
JoSean Lee faces charges of Harassment in the First Degree, Knowingly Disturbing a Burial Site, and Property Damage in the First Degree, all Class E felonies. *
“Deliberately destroying a burial site is not only a criminal offense but also inflicts lasting trauma on a family already grieving for their loved one. Regardless of age, if you choose to engage in this type of destructive and disrespectful behavior, you will face serious consequences. My office will continue to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent possible,” said Prosecutor Johnson.
According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 5900 block of Bannister Road on a property damage report on January 13. They found the top portion of a headstone belonging to a victim of an unsolved homicide knocked over and damaged.
A detective viewed a video on Instagram showing two males, one identified as the defendant, standing by the headstone and yelling at the grave. The defendant is seen pouring an unknown liquid on it. In the video, the defendant is seen armed with a rifle. The video also shows the defendant trying to light the liquid he poured on the headstone on fire with a lighter.
The funeral home that operates the graveyard advised the headstone will need to be replaced and estimated the cost for replacement and labor to reinstall would be about $7,500-7,800.
*Charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty.
Media Contact:
Jazzlyn Johnson
Director of Communications
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
415 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO - 64106
(816) 929-1289
jazzlyn.johnson@jacksongov.org
https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com