Woman faces federal charges after allegedly vandalizing the World War II Memorial while livestreaming the incident
A Kentucky woman is facing federal charges after allegedly vandalizing the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., while livestreaming the incident on Facebook. Investigators later used her public social media videos and other evidence to identify her as Melissa L. Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Farris was charged on August 14 with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of a veterans’ memorial. According to the criminal complaint, each charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison. According to the federal criminal complaint, Farris later posted a video saying:
“Anybody watching this please make an edit of the live, highlight the good parts, make me look fancy, get it all over the internet”
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannie Ferris Pirro also addressed the case on X, calling the alleged vandalism “a despicable attack” on the memorial honoring Americans who fought and died for the country’s freedom. Pirro said Farris was facing two felony charges carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison and was in custody.
Melissa Farris Allegedly Documented the Vandalism on Facebook
According to the federal complaint, U.S. Park Police and Park Rangers responded to the World War II Memorial at around 2 p.m. on August 13 after receiving a report of a disorderly person. A witness reportedly told authorities that a woman was spray-painting parts of the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion. A ranger who arrived at the memorial allegedly saw foam in the pavilion’s fountain and found several people watching a woman recording herself. The complaint says the woman fled after noticing the ranger.
A witness also photographed the woman allegedly holding a can of spray paint and applying yellow paint to the memorial’s balcony wall. Investigators later linked the woman to Farris, who had previously been arrested on August 10 and had livestreamed that arrest through her social media accounts. Police reviewed Farris’ public Facebook and Instagram accounts and found several videos connected to the August 13 incident. In one video posted before the alleged vandalism, Farris said she was making deliberate choices as part of an attempt to push what she described as a whistleblower case into court.
“I am accountable for the things that I do and the choices that I make and our government needs to be accountable for their choices too”
Another video showed the memorial’s fountain filled with a foam-like substance and the vestibule covered in paint. Farris also reportedly recorded herself saying:
“Nobody cares, why doesn’t anybody care, this is unreal”
Farris later claimed in the same video that she had been allowed to damage federal property without anyone intervening. She also posted an Instagram story saying she expected police to come for her and wanted the encounter recorded for her safety. The complaint states that National Park Service personnel and contractors were responsible for cleaning and restoring the memorial, with preliminary costs already exceeding $1,000.
Based on the evidence outlined in the complaint, the government said there was probable cause to charge Farris under federal law. The allegations remain subject to the court process, and Farris has not been convicted.
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