Police: Man vandalized America's Stonehenge

Breanna Edelstein, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
·2 min read

Mar. 3—SALEM, N.H. — A New Jersey man has returned to New Hampshire to face criminal mischief charges linked to an act of vandalism at America's Stonehenge over a year ago.

Mark Russo, 50, of Swedesboro, New Jersey, is accused of carving the name of a terrorist group being watched by the FBI into a stone tablet at the Salem property, which is believed to be more than 4,000 years old.

Chief Joel Dolan on Wednesday praised Det. Michael Geha, who led the 15-month investigation with assistance from FBI officials in Bedford and police in New Jersey.

Russo was arrested Monday at the Salem County Correctional Facility in Woods Town, New Jersey, where he was being held pending extradition back to New Hampshire.

Salem police said they responded to 105 Haverhill Road on Sept. 29, 2019, following a report of mischief. Officers met with the property owner, who directed them to a "large stone sacrificial tablet," according to court documents.

"The stone tablet was carved with 'WWG1WGA' and 'IAMMARK'," the documents state.

According to the property owner, the first marking stands for "Where We Go 1, We Go All." Police said a group by that name is included on an FBI list of domestic terrorists.

Police said the other marking matches Russo's username on Twitter.

Court documents go on to describe an 18-inch tall wooden cross with several photographs — including some of Russo — and hand-drawn images found suspended between two trees.

The documents state, "the first picture was of a young male. The second picture was of two adult males. The third smaller picture was of an adult male. Additionally, there were two sketched drawings attached to the cross, appeared to depict the Crucifixion."

Geha wrote in a report that during his investigation, he connected with a couple interested in the American Stonehenge who found a post on Twitter that contained pictures and videos from the site when it was damaged.

They provided police the social media post, including a video of a man in a red, white and blue Punisher skull T-shirt with the words "Got pain?" on the front, a police report explains. The man, later identified as Russo, is shown attempting to enter American Stonehenge without paying but is stopped by staff.

Another social media post found by police on Russo's account reads in part, "Oh made a few improvements at American Stonehenge. Sorry...my bad."

Russo was arraigned in Rockingham Superior Court on Tuesday. Court filings show that Judge Daniel St. Hilaire set bail at $3,000 cash.

"A job well done to Detective Geha, who has determinedly and skillfully worked on this case for well over a year," Dolan said. "This is an example of fine police work, and how law enforcement agencies, wherever they may be located, can work together to resolve investigations such as this one."

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