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Who is Mark Russo? NJ man carved QAnon slogan on 4,000-year-old tablet, put up cross at 'America's Stonehenge'

The owner of the property discovered 'an unusual wooden cross with several pictures and drawings, suspended from two trees'
UPDATED MAR 4, 2021
Mark Russo (L) damaged a 4,000-year-old stone tablet at 'America's Stonehenge' in New Hampshire (Salem Police Department/Getty Images)
Mark Russo (L) damaged a 4,000-year-old stone tablet at 'America's Stonehenge' in New Hampshire (Salem Police Department/Getty Images)

SALEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Police have arrested a suspect who allegedly damaged a 4,000-year-old stone tablet with carvings that included a hashtag frequently promoted by QAnon followers on social media. 50-year-old Mark Russo, from Kings Highway in Swedesboro, New Jersey, was apprehended on Monday, March 1 on a single felony criminal mischief charge, Patch reported.

On September 29, 2019, an officer responded to a vandalism report at the world-famous Stonehenge monument in Salem. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to the owner of the property, who said he discovered "an unusual wooden cross with several pictures and drawings, suspended from two trees," near the historical site. After further canvassing the area, the property owner determined there was "significant damage" done to the main site's stone sacrificial tablet.

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"The stone table was carved with 'WWG1WGA' and 'IAMMARK,'" the officer wrote in his report. "(The owner) stated that this tablet was approximately 4,000 years old." The officer noted how a number of photos were tacked to the cross, including that of a young boy, another of two men, and a third featuring one man. Meanwhile, there were two sketched drawings that appeared to depict the crucifixion also attached to the cross. 

Authorities soon discovered during the course of their investigation that "WWG1WGA" stood for "Where We Go 1, We Go All" — a slogan often used by supporters of online conspiracy group QAnon.



 

A few weeks later, the detective obtained intel that a number of images from the Stonehenge monument had been shared by a now-suspended Twitter account. Some of the photos also included the cross and a passport-sized photo of the man that was pinned to it. The detective received more information in December 2019, including a tweet posted by the handle "iammark." The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which helped with a background check request, revealed to the officer that the Twitter account belonged to Russo. The account is currently in "protected" status.

According to the detective, "iammark" wrote in one post, "Do you see any reason not to take down their portals? Boston specifically oh and the 66 Baal shaft? Oh made a few improvements @American Stonehenge(crying emoji) sorry Scottie Wolters my bad (middle finger emoji)." After gathering some more evidence, including a Pennsylvania driver's license, and video provided by the property owners, the detective made Russo the prime suspect in the vandalism incident.

Russo was arrested on March 1. He was subsequently arraigned and released on a $3,000 cash bail, and is due at a dispositional hearing in Rockingham County Superior Court on April 21. Salem Police Chief Joel Dolan praised Detective Michael Geha for his role in leading the investigation, which was joined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Bedford, New Hampshire office and the Woolrich, New Jersey Police Department.

“A job well done to Detective Geha, who has determinedly and skillfully worked on this case for well over a year,” Chief Dolan said in a statement. “This is an example of fine police work, and how law enforcement agencies, wherever they may be located, can work together to resolve investigations such as this one.”

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