Gallery: Baby Lester grave at allegedly haunted Stepp Cemetery set on fire

July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian0

Editor’s Note: I’m hearing conflicting reports on how this fire may have begun. Although a Facebook post with photos, and messages sent to The Bloomingtonian, claimed the fire was set intentionally, I’m hearing now the DNR may have determined the fire was set accidentally by a candle. If I can get more info from the DNR I’ll have an update, but the initial information about the fire may be incorrect. The photo captions have been updated to reflect this new information.

July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Grave in Steppingstones Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Damaged grave at Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Hacker family graves at Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Hacker family grave at Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Hacker family grave at Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: 1864 grave at Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: 1864 grave at Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: War of 1812 veteran grave at Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: War of 1812 veteran grave at Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: War of 1812 veteran grave at Stepp Cemetery. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Napoleon B. Platt gravestone at Stepp Cemetery. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Napoleon B. Platt gravestone at Stepp Cemetery. Platt served in Company E of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry during the American Civil War. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: The sign marking Stepp Cemetery has been damaged. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Road leading to Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Item left at the road leading to Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
July 24, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana: Road leading to Stepp Cemetery. Toys at the grave of “Baby Lester” were set on fire sometime in the past few days, Saturday, July 24, 2021 in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Northern Monroe County. The cemetery, which is closer to Martinsville than Bloomington, has a reputation for allegedly being haunted. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)

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