World War II Memorial vandalism suspect arrested

Melissa Farris, a 41-year-old woman from Kentucky, has been arrested and charged with two federal felonies following the vandalism of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

According to federal authorities, the incident occurred on August 13 at the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion. Farris allegedly filled a fountain with foam and used orange, green, and pink paint to deface the site, including writing “Clean Hands Dirty $” on a wall. The act was livestreamed to her social media followers, during which she reportedly asked viewers to edit the footage to “make me look fancy.”

Farris initially fled the scene when park rangers arrived but later turned herself in at a federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. She faces charges of willfully injuring or committing a depredation against property of the United States and the destruction of a veterans’ memorial. These offenses carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison. She remains in custody pending legal proceedings.