A man and woman are accused of tampering with and vandalizing the Liberty Bell.
Sean Gerlach, 50, of Fairview, North Carolina, is charged with tampering with property in a National Park and trespassing on National Park property. Dawn Hawa, aka Dawn Benitez, 50, is charged with vandalism of property in a National Park.
The incident occurred on May 16, 2026, inside the Liberty Bell Center within Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia. While visiting the center, Gerlach jumped over the barrier protecting the Liberty Bell and then pushed the bell until it swayed several times, according to investigators. The area Gerlach entered was not open to the public and he was not authorized to be there, officials said.
Hawa, meanwhile, flicked an oily substance over the barrier protecting the bell, officials said. The substance hit and remained on the bell and surrounding areas, according to investigators.
The incident was captured on surveillance video. On July 23, FBI agents interviewed Gerlach who identified himself as the man in the video and admitted he tried to ring the Liberty Bell, according to the criminal complaint.
If convicted, Gerlach faces a maximum of one year in prison while Hawa faces a maximum of six months in prison.
