An Alabama man has been charged with desecrating his wife's grave, according to the DeKalb County sheriff's department.

The grave's tombstone had been spray painted, the sheriff's department said.

Authorities said Christopher Jack Lowrey had been arrested on the desecration charge.

The investigation began last Thursday when the sheriff's department received a call about damage done to a tombstone at New Canaan Baptist Church cemetery in Crossville. A witness called the cemetery care taker reporting suspicious activity and described the suspect's clothing and vehicle.

The sheriff's department said it also received a call from a police department in North Carolina, which passed along information about a citizen who had received threats from Lowrey and pictures of Lowrey beside the spray painted grave.

Deputies and Geraldine police took Lowrey into custody at his residence, the sheriff's department said.

DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said the case remains under investigation.