Man Killed By Mother-In-Law’s Tombstone As He Decorated It For Easter

A 74-year-old man from Scranton, Pennsylvania, was killed by his mother-in-law’s headstone, which he was decorating with his family in time for Easter.

According to the police, Stephen Woytack was was crushed by the heavy, but unstable stone at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Throop.

The caretaker of the cemetery, Ed Kubilus, told reporters that Woytack came every Easter with his wife to decorate the grave. “They tie a cross to it every year, the both of them. And after they’re done tying the cross, they stand there and say prayers and they leave,” said Kubilus.

Sadly, reported the caretaker, this year was different from other years, and tragically so, “Usually I come down and talk to them right away but I went up the other end to start picking up the Christmas ornaments and she came running up, “Help me, the stone fell on Stephen!'”

Apparently, Woytack was kneeling next to the stone praying, while his wife on the other side tried to tie a cross with string. It was at that point that the stone fell, killing Woytack.

According to Kubilus, this isn’t the first time a stone has fallen at the graveyard, “I’ve come over and saw six stones fall from the winter. Winter, and the ground gets soft and the stones fall over and you have somebody come and pick them up.”

The Diocese of Scranton Bishop, Joseph Bambera, released the following statement, “It is unimaginable to think that a visit of a faithful couple to the grave of loved ones in anticipation of the celebration of Easter could have ended in such a tragic manner. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and his family.”

According to the Throop police, the incident will not be investigated much further, as the department’s police chief called it a “horrible accident.”

[Image credit: trnsze]