Four teenagers broke into New York’s newly restored Tarrytown Lighthouse and set it on fire, causing over $100,000 in damage just one year after its $3.4 million renovation.
At a Glance
- Four teens broke into the Tarrytown Lighthouse around 3:30 a.m. on May 31
- They set a fire and smashed antique furnishings and windows
- The site had just undergone a $3.4 million restoration completed in May 2024
- Estimated damages now exceed $100,000, according to county officials
- Two adults face arson and burglary charges; two minors were arraigned in juvenile court
Historic Landmark Desecrated
A brazen act of vandalism has shattered the calm of Sleepy Hollow, New York, where the historic Tarrytown Lighthouse was trashed in the early hours of May 31. Four teenagers—identified as 18-year-old Elvin Ayavaca, 19-year-old Richard Barrero, and two unnamed 17-year-olds—allegedly forced their way into the 142-year-old lighthouse and ignited a fire on the first floor, damaging priceless antiques, shattering windows, and scattering historic books.
The timing of the incident deepens the blow. The Tarrytown Lighthouse had only just completed a $3.4 million restoration in May 2024, making it an emblem of renewed local heritage. County officials estimate that the fire and physical destruction now demand upwards of $100,000 in additional repairs, jeopardizing future access and educational programming at the site.
Law, Loss, and Reckoning
Authorities acted swiftly. Westchester County Police charged the adult suspects with third-degree arson, burglary, and criminal mischief. The minors were processed through juvenile court. County Parks Department Commissioner Kathleen O’Connor described the act as not just mischief but deliberate arson, emphasizing the emotional toll on residents and historians who had fought to preserve the lighthouse.
Community outrage has been swift and unified. Many are calling for harsher penalties for attacks on protected historic sites and questioning the adequacy of current security protocols. The incident, they argue, exposes a broader cultural disregard for local history and raises alarms about youth accountability in an age of increasingly reckless viral dares and digital nihilism.
Despite the damage, Westchester County officials vowed to restore the landmark once again—but at a growing cost to taxpayers, trust, and cultural memory.
