KY Woman Melissa Farris Arrested In WWII Memorial Vandalism, Faces 10 Years Federal Prison

Aug 14, 2026

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (THECOUNT) — Melissa Lynne Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, has been arrested and faces two federal felony charges after the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., was vandalized with red paint and a substance that caused bubbles to fill a memorial fountain, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and the Associated Press.

Farris is charged with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans’ memorials. Pirro announced Friday that her office had filed the two felony charges and said each offense carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Farris was expected to appear in court Friday. An attorney had not yet been assigned to her, according to the AP.

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The World War II Memorial is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The National Park Service identifies the World War II Memorial as one of the historic properties within the National Mall area.

U.S. Park Police began investigating Thursday after discovering damage at the memorial. According to investigators, red paint had been used to mark portions of the Atlantic pavilion, including the words “Clean hands dirty $.” A substance had also been poured into a fountain, producing a large amount of bubbles.

Pirro announced the arrest in a social media post, describing the memorial as a place honoring Americans who fought and died during World War II. She said her office was pursuing the federal charges against Farris following the investigation.

The vandalism prompted condemnation from organizations connected to the memorial and veterans. Friends of the National World War II Memorial said the site should not be used for vandalism, emphasizing its purpose as a memorial to those who served and those who did not return from the war. The Veterans of Foreign Wars also condemned the incident as disrespectful to veterans and their families.

The U.S. Department of the Interior likewise condemned the damage, calling the memorial a place honoring military service and the more than 400,000 Americans who died during World War II. Officials said the vandalism would not be tolerated.

President Donald Trump also addressed the incident in a social media post, calling the vandalism an insult to Americans who died during World War II. His comments came amid heightened attention on damage to other Washington memorial sites.

The World War II Memorial incident is separate from a recent controversy involving damage to the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Federal prosecutors previously filed vandalism charges against another suspect in connection with the pool, but the Justice Department later moved to dismiss that case after determining that evidence indicated the damage resulted from problems with a repair project rather than vandalism.

Authorities have not indicated that Farris is connected to the earlier Reflecting Pool investigation. The charges announced Friday concern the World War II Memorial.

The World War II Memorial, dedicated in 2004, honors the 16 million Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II and the more than 400,000 Americans who died during the conflict. The memorial occupies a prominent location between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument along the National Mall.

Farris remains in custody as the federal case proceeds. The charges are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

According to public records, Farris recently resided in Toledo, Ohio and Luna Pier, Michigan.

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