Vandals take sledgehammer to Brockton highway memorial

BROCKTON, Mass. — Police are searching for the vandals who took a sledgehammer to a highway memorial along Route 24 in Brockton this past weekend.

The memorial is in honor of Cory Wasilewski, a 20-year-old from West Bridgewater who was killed in a crash on Route 24 in Avon earlier this year. Cory's girlfriend suffered head trauma, but survived.

The makeshift wooden cross memorial is located on the northbound side of Route 24 just south of exit 19. It was broken into several pieces sometime between 9:30 p.m. Saturday and early Sunday morning.

The damage was especially devastating to Cory’s father, Thomas Wasilewski, who visits the memorial daily because going to the cemetery is still too tough for him.

“It's not something I ever thought I'd have to deal with. Cory was my reason for life. He was my best friend, my partner, my buddy. He had this smile on his face all the time," Wasilewski told Boston 25 News. “No matter what kind of a day you were having, he could just light up the room. If he was having a bad day, you'd never know it. He didn't want to see people sad. Whatever he could do to cheer somebody up, he'd do. He had that glow about him. He was special.”

Cory was a Mustang fanatic and his favorite car was a ’94 Mustang GT. Wasilewski and his wife bought one in honor of Cory. They said every time they drive it, they know Cory’s hands are on the wheel. The license plate is made up of Cory’s initials and little league number.

"We just happened to find one for sale and we couldn't pass it up. We drive it every day. We bought it for him. It is him,” said Wasilewski. “What I wouldn't give to have been able to have given him this car while he was here. That's what hurts the most. It just would have been the gift of a lifetime for him.”

One of the drivers involved in the crash is due in court in December for a clerk magistrate’s hearing, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. A judge will determine whether he will face criminal charges.

Wasilewski has a message for that driver.

“You're a young man. If you made a mistake, own up to it because I know my kid would have,” he said Wasilewski.

Wasilewski also has strong words for those who damaged his son’s memorial.

"You're an idiot. Grow up. Someone's memorial. Someone's dead. To do this is beyond human. It's evil. It's the devil. I pray for you because if you're this pathetic, you must have one hell of a life. Good luck with that."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious is urged to call Massachusetts State Police.

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