Editor's Note: The following was submitted to DarkeJournal.com by a reader we will refer to as a "Concerned Citizen" who requested her name be withheld, a request to which I agreed. She also clarified that the incident is being reported to police so that they are aware of the odd behavior, and I would suggest to anyone who feels they see something "off" or "unusual" that gives you cause for suspicion to do the same, regardless if you feel you have enough information to lead them to a specific person or event.
Many people enjoy the use of the Greenville Cemetery whether it is for walking, running or just a place to relax. As a woman, who runs for exercise, the Cemetery is my ‘go to’ place to run if I am running alone. I always feel safe there... until today.
I parked near the flag pole. As I got ready to run, I noticed 2 vehicles on the south side of the west loop: a dark van and a red car. As I started to run the loop, counter clock wise, the red car had driven to the north side of the loop and stopped. I ran by and waved. The dark van passed me and left the cemetery. I noticed the red car was stopped near the entrance. I continued to run around the flag pole as the car slowly crept southbound toward me. As I ran past them I waved again. I noticed the occupants of the car: a disheveled couple in their late 50s or early 60s. The lady was driving. This time she returned my wave. The man just looked at me.
I turned onto the service road leading to the east end of the cemetery. Glancing back, I watched the car circle around the flag pole then drive to the entrance of the service road and stopped. They sat there for a bit, then turned and followed me as I ran eastward on the service road. By now, I am starting to be concerned because they didn’t speed up to pass me. They just crept along a little ways behind me. I decided to cross the grassy area and continued my east bound run toward traffic on 571 putting space and people between us. The car never sped up after I left the service road. They continued creeping along behind me. My intention was to stop at Greenlawn Vet Clinic, but they were closed. I continued running to the first house at the edge of Greenville, where a man was outside. As I ran into his drive the car sped up and drove away.
Too nervous to run back to my car, I used the home owner’s phone to call my husband. After my husband arrived we went through the cemetery and the car was not there. Maybe this was a coincidence; maybe they were just driving and enjoying the day. I don’t know. I do know I feel I should to pass this experience on so people who use the cemetery will know. I hope this reminds people to be aware of their surroundings at all times. I don’t know if I will continue to use the cemetery as my ‘safe’ place to run. I do know I have never seen the police drive through the cemetery. Maybe if the police could occasionally drive through, the cemetery could remain a safe place for people to enjoy.
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