UPDATE: FBI & Cullman County Investigate Possible Hate Crimes

Linda White/NBC 13
Published: June 27, 2008
Updated: June 27, 2008

Hanceville, Ala --- Detroit native and Cullman County resident for the last six months, Lamar Jones told me he won't let racist graffiti chase him from his home.

Deniaya Schmoldt/Saw Racist Graffiti said, "I just thought it was mean to do, it's just cruel to do."

Even this soon to be 3rd grader, 8 year old Deniaya Schmoldt knows what she saw on the side of her Hanceville home was cruel. Lamar Jones is her stepfather.

Lamar Jones/Discovered Racist Graffiti said, "When I seen it, I was angry. I feel threatened by the words."

It's all painted over now, but it included the words, “black is death”, a swastika and the letters w-p, for white power.

Jones said, "It's just terrible because I'm married to a Caucasian. She feels threatened and hurt for it and people shouldn't have to deal with that.”

But then late Thursday night - vandals returned.

Jones said, "Last night, they came by about 12 o'clock and knocked every mailbox down."

Lt Jimmy Morrow/Cullman County Sheriff’s Office said, "In Cullman County we will not tolerate that kind of behavior. We'll investigate it and prosecute anyone who's connected with it if we can."

Jones would like the criminal or criminals to be punished. But just as the nation gets ready to nominate a black man as the presidential democratic nominee - he'd also like to know this...

Jones said, "I just want the person that did this, I want to know why. Why me?"

Lt Morrow told me, if the criminals are found - they will be prosecuted for criminal mischief based on a hate biased crime. He's also alerted the Huntsville FBI for any assistance they can offer. They are also investigating these incidents as hate crimes.