O'FALLON — Police are investigating what appears to be a random act of criminal defacement to the family home of an injured Marine, Lance Cpl. Chris Van Etten, who's home for the holidays.

Van Etten lost both of his legs during an explosion in June in Afghanistan.

The Van Etten home on Farmingon Drive was defaced earlier this week with racial slurs spray painted on the siding and raw eggs splattered at various locations, according to O'Fallon police Captain Mark Berry.

"With the racial slurs, it didn't fit the occupants that lived in the home," Berry said. He wouldn't specify what racial slurs were sprayed on the house.

The criminal defacement was reported to police at just after 9 a.m. Monday. Berry said vandals likely targeted the home overnight.

Police are still investigating the incident. "We have no evidence to go on at this point," Berry said, noting there were no witnesses to the crime.

Police canvassed the neighborhood and found no similar instances.

"We've been patrolling that neighborhood the last few days and found no further criminal defacement," Berry said.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call O'Fallon police at 624-4545.

Chip Shaffer with the O'Fallon VFW Post No. 805 said he was upset when he heard about what happened to the Van Etten's house.

Van Etten, who's been in rehab in California since he was injured, is home visiting family for Christmas.

Contact reporter Jamie Forsythe at 239-2562 or jforsythe1@bnd.com.