JAY – Police are investigating damage to a memorial stone dedicated to a young mother who died in a fire in 1976 and firefighters that saved her 18-month-old son. The stone at the Church Street Playground toppled over and had a chunk broken off its top.

An 11-year-old Jay girl received a compound fracture Monday to one of her legs above the ankle when she tried to lift the stone back into place and it fell back on her, Jay police Chief Larry White Sr. said.

White said police are investigating to see whether the stone initially toppled over by itself or was pushed over.

On Tuesday, the monument was standing up and the chuck that had broken was set in place.

Small pieces of granite lay on the ground in front of the stone, and behind the stone, near a flat rock in the ground.

The heavy monument donated by Wiles Funeral Home was unveiled at the playground in a ceremony in July.

It honors 16-year-old LeAnne LeBlond who died in a fire in an apartment building at the site in October 1976 and firefighters who rescued her son.

In July, Michael Kenney, LeAnne’s son, and her mother, Margaret LeBlond, and Livermore Fire Chief Randy Berry lifted a covering to unveil the stone at the site, which has been turned into a playground by community members.

Kenney said in late July that he didn’t have many memories of the fatal fire that claimed his mother’s life but at least now there is something permanent at the site marking the memory of his mother.

People on Church Street and surrounding areas organized a campaign last year to establish the playground with help from the Healthy Community Coalition, businesses, individual donations and civic organizations.

Coalition Executive Director Leah Binder said Tuesday she would like police to do a thorough investigation to find out what happened to the stone.

“I think the monument has a huge symbolic value,” Binder said.

It honors LeAnne, firefighters and a community that has worked so hard to put the playground in place, she said.

“I know the police will work hard to figure out if an accident happened or in bringing to justice someone who deliberately damaged it,” Binder said.

Town Manager Ruth Marden she was disturbed by the damage but withheld judgment until she finds out what happened.

“I’m very upset,” Marden said. “I want to make sure people give us a chance to find out what really happened before any prejudgments are made.”

Marden, White and Jay Highway Foreman John Johnson inspected the memorial monument Tuesday afternoon and decided it needed to be removed.

The stone is not secure and in danger of toppling over again, Marden said.

“We all agreed it is a very dangerous situation,” Marden said. “The stone is being removed to the town garage until we can find a way to secure it.”

Anyone with information about the damage is asked to call the Jay Police Department at 897-6766.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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