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Cemetery Workers Dug Up Bodies, Resold Graves

Illinois cemetery employees excavated graves, dumped remains for cash

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 9, 2009 4:46 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Four employees of a historic Chicago-area cemetery face charges after police uncovered a gruesome scheme to excavate graves, remove the human remains, and resell the plots, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. One manager and three grave diggers at Burr Oak Cemetery are charged with dismembering a human body, which carries of a sentence of 6 to 30 years. Cook County police estimate the quartet dug up about 300 graves and made hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Under the alleged scheme, they would arrange the sale of a new burial, excavate an existing grave, dump the remains in a mass grave on the outskirts of the cemetery, and pocket the money. Others may be charged. “There should be really a special place in hell for these graveyard thieves," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said.

In this photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office is Carolyn Towns, 49, of Chicago.
In this photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office is Carolyn Towns, 49, of Chicago.   (AP Photo/Cook County Sheriff's Office)
This photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office shows Maurice Dailey, 61, of Robbins, Ill. Dailey was one of four people charged Thursday, July 9, 2009.
This photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office shows Maurice Dailey, 61, of Robbins, Ill. Dailey was one of four people charged Thursday, July 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/Cook County Sheriff's Office)
This photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office shows Keith Nicks, 45, of Chicago. Nicks was one of four people charged Thursday, July 9, 2009.
This photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office shows Keith Nicks, 45, of Chicago. Nicks was one of four people charged Thursday, July 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/Cook County Sheriff's Office)
This photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office shows Terrence Nicks, 39, of Chicago. Nicks is one of four people charged Thursday, July 9, 2009.
This photo released by the Cook County Sheriff's Office shows Terrence Nicks, 39, of Chicago. Nicks is one of four people charged Thursday, July 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/Cook County Sheriff's Office)
Family members search for the graves of relatives at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill., Thursday, July 9, 2009=.
Family members search for the graves of relatives at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill., Thursday, July 9, 2009=.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
A man prays over graves at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill., Thursday, July 9, 2009.
A man prays over graves at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill., Thursday, July 9, 2009.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart explains the gruesome scheme police uncovered as Aslip, Illinois' Burr Oak Cemetery.   (CNN Video)
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart explains the gruesome scheme police uncovered at Alsip, Illinois' Burr Oak Cemetery.   (CNN Video)
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart explains the gruesome scheme police uncovered as Aslip, Illinois' Burr Oak Cemetery.   (CNN Video)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Yourself
Jul 10, 2009 4:35 AM CDT
yeah, let me go look in some fictitious place for something not so worthless. Graves are far from worthless, as someone else said did you think it wouldn't be a problem when you go to find your relative and they aren't there? They're far from worthless to the people that paid big money for a grave site, just to find out that someone else is now burried there. BTW, i'm still looking for this supposed "heaven and hell" people always talk about.
Serenity
Jul 10, 2009 2:46 AM CDT
I can honestly say that I'm surprised that there aren't any racial comments about the ethnicity of the grave robbers and the fact that Rev. Jackson isn't claiming any racially motivated persecussion. I guess that the disgusting and violating nature of this crime supercedes all of that....Wow, I think we are evolving! Yay us!
Timinator2K
Jul 10, 2009 1:33 AM CDT
The bodies are dug up but, they can still vote in Chicago...and Acorn will make sure that all bodies dug up everywhere can vote in 2012.

 
grave robbing • Illinois • resales • excavation • burial • scheme • Burr Oak Cemetery

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