HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Harrison Township family is frustrated and confused after someone has repeatedly vandalized and taken items from a memorial dedicated to their son.
Amanda Anderson said the memorial for her son, Max Anderson, has been targeted multiple times, with items that hold deep sentimental value disappearing.
Security footage shared with Local 4 shows a person, Anderson believes it is a neighbor, walking away from the memorial with an item in hand. Something she described as painful.
“It’s a horrible feeling,” Amanda said. “The thing is, I didn’t put this up. The members of the community put this up, and it makes me know that people do care and want to remember him.”
Max died nearly a year ago after drowning near the family’s home. Amanda said first responders placed the initial items at the memorial shortly after his death, and over time, the display grew as community members added decorations.
To now see items taken or destroyed, she said, has been “hard to deal with.” Adding, “it’s not right and it’s not okay.”
“If I’m having a bad day, as you could see, there’s one way in and one way out on our street, I could just smile and look at it {the memorial} and it just makes me feel like he’s here with me,” Amanda said.
Local 4 reached out to Harrison Township officials and asked if this memorial was illegal or against any ordinance. They said it is not against any ordinance for someone to create a makeshift memorial.
Local 4 also reached out to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office to ask whether the person seen removing and damaging items could face any consequences.
Their communications manager said situations like this one can be tricky. She said first a complaint would have to be filed, then the sheriff’s office would investigate. If they feel like something is there, then they would present it to the prosecutor’s office.
And Amanda said she hopes to one day have a permanent memorial for her little boy, who loved running around and was full of energy.
Until then, she said she has this message for the person removing items.
“If this is something that brings me peace and my children peace, just leave it alone,” Amanda said.