Burr Oak Cemetery Fall Out Continues
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jul 10, 2009 4:00PM
Shock and disgust remain two days after the horrific discovery at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip that employees at the historic African-American cemetery had dug up several hundred bodies for the purposes of reselling the plots. The disinterred remains were then dumped in a field at the rear of the cemetery. According to the Sun-Times' Mary Mitchell, officials also discovered the casket of Emmett Till, whose murder became a rallying point of the Civil Rights movement, had been moved.
The casket was surrounded by garbage and discarded headstones strewn about like litter."When we opened it up trying to find what we have, a family of possums ran out," said Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.
Cemetery workers had been cooperative and informed law enforcement officials that it was indeed Till's original casket.
"It sure looks like all of the photos I have ever seen," Dart said. "This is absolutely horrible."
Dart and other officials spent yesterday shuttling worried families around the grounds of the cemetery and taking reports from distraught families who suspected their relatives may have been one of the bodies disturbed.
Meanwhile, Dart announced that the four employees charged have been moved to a special section of Cook County Jail to prevent any incidents of harm by other inmates. Speaking to Greg Jarrett on WGN-720 AM this morning, Dart said, "These people need to be put in a special place because there is the strongest possibility of serious injury if that doesn't happen. We jumped on that right away." According to Chicago Breaking News:
Former cemetery manager Carolyn Towns, 49, foreman Keith Nicks, 45, and dump-truck operator Terrence Nicks, 39, all of Chicago, and back-hoe operator Maurice Dailey, 59, of Robbins, were each charged with dismembering a human body, a Class X felony. All face up to 30 years in prison.Towns' bail was set at $250,000, the others' at $200,000. Towns was placed in the psychiatric wing of Cermak Hospital. "We're concerned for her based on a psychiatric evaluation," said sheriff's office spokesman Steve Patterson.
Dart said this morning the defendants had made statements, but did not go into detail.
According to Dart, officials are still trying to figure out the extent of the financial scheme.