SpongeBob monuments return to Ohio cemetery

CINCINNATI, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A Cincinnati cemetery announced it has reached an agreement with a slain soldier's family to put her "SpongeBob SquarePants" monuments back in place.

Spring Grove Cemetery release a statement saying it has reached an agreement with the family of Army Sgt. Kimberly Walker, 28, whose grave was adorned with a pair of uniformed SpongeBob monuments for her and twin sister Kara, who is serving in the Navy, WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, reported Monday.

The cemetery had originally approved the monuments, but later told the family they had to be removed following complaints.

The agreement led to the monuments being returned to their former places Friday with granite slabs blocking them from the view of other grave sites.

"Spring Grove Cemetery apologizes to the Walker family. Our personnel oversaw the design and installed the SpongeBob monuments and then had them removed when concerns were raised by others. We deeply regret the distress this caused the family. We have worked hard to remedy the problem and appreciate the cooperation we received from the family during this process," the cemetery's statement read.

Walker was found dead in a Colorado Springs, Colo., hotel room Feb. 14, 2013. Her boyfriend was arrested and charged in connection with her death.