$1000 Reward Now Offered For Help Finding New River Gorge Vandal

By

Compiled from NPS Releases

Published Date

January 23, 2025

National Park Service authorities are looking for the person who "tagged" rocks and trees at Long Point in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve/NPS

The Friends of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve have teamed up with Crime Stoppers of West Virginia to offer a cash reward for tips leading to discovering who used spray paint to vandalize a section of the Long Point Trail, one of the park’s most beloved spots. The vandalism occurred between the evening of December 20 and the morning of December 21, 2024.

Park rangers discovered the damage on the morning of December 21, which included red spray paint on about ten trees and several rocks—some with words, others with random markings. While some of the graffiti raised questions about a potential suicide, officials confirmed there was no evidence of anything beyond vandalism.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media. Despite a few tips coming through the hotline and directly to the park, no arrests have been made so far.

“We share the public’s anger over this,” said Teddy Queen, FNRGNPP board member. “Long Point Trail is iconic, and seeing it defaced like this is heartbreaking. It’s a special place for so many people.”

To encourage more leads, FNRGNPP has contributed an additional $500 to the reward fund, which already included $500 from Crime Stoppers of WV. This brings the total reward to $1,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

“The Friends group is a vital partner for the park, supporting us in countless ways,” said Park Superintendent Charles Sellars. “Their generosity in this situation shows their deep commitment to the park, and we are incredibly grateful.”

If you have any information about this incident, please contact Crime Stoppers of WV at (304) 255-7867 or submit a tip online at crimestopperswv.com. All tips remain anonymous.

For updates about the park, visit nps.gov/neri and follow along on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the Friends group at friendsofnewriver.org or on their Facebook page.

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New River Gorge National Park And Preserve

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