kenb
Bronze Member
No bones, no headstone, maybee it wasn't a grave someone dug up.
Authorities Investigate Grave Desecration In State Park
Posted: Jan 9, 2008 08:37 PM EST
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Grave Robbery Suspected In State Park
LEBANON, Tenn. - Police in Wilson County wonder if it's a case of grave desecration, grave robbery or both?
Someone dug up a grave in an old cemetery at the Cedars of Lebanon State Park.
An archaeologist, who is helping police, did not find anything when he climbed into the grave.
The bones were decomposed or someone took them.
The Merrit Cemetery is one of nine cemeteries in the park.
It is located in the woods and passersby wouldn't notice unless someone showed them or they accidentally stumbled upon it.
Two tombstones are engraved. The rest are blank including one foresters found unearthed earlier this week.
Someone dug up two thirds of a grave.
"There were pieces of what looks like the top of the box," said Phil Feduna, agricultural crime investigator. "A casket or coffin laying up here on the ground by its feet."
An undercover investigator with the state said wood from the casket was stacked next to the grave.
Police don't know if there were bones in the casket.
The graves in the cemetery date back to the late 1800's or early 1900's, so the archaeologist said it's possible most of the bones have decomposed.
But, when police filled in the hole they found what they think is a piece of a bone from a pelvis.
It just blows my mind. I can't believe somebody would have disrespect and would want to do something like this," Feduna said.
Police said the first step in the investigation is to find out who was buried in the grave. This will not be easy.
With the exception of a couple of stones the grave was not marked.
Police don't believe anything valuable such as jewelry was buried with the body.
Disturbing a grave in Tennessee is a felony.
Police said grave desecration will not be tolerated and if they find the persons responsible in Wilson County, they will be charged.
kenb
Authorities Investigate Grave Desecration In State Park
Posted: Jan 9, 2008 08:37 PM EST
Featured Videos
Grave Robbery Suspected In State Park
LEBANON, Tenn. - Police in Wilson County wonder if it's a case of grave desecration, grave robbery or both?
Someone dug up a grave in an old cemetery at the Cedars of Lebanon State Park.
An archaeologist, who is helping police, did not find anything when he climbed into the grave.
The bones were decomposed or someone took them.
The Merrit Cemetery is one of nine cemeteries in the park.
It is located in the woods and passersby wouldn't notice unless someone showed them or they accidentally stumbled upon it.
Two tombstones are engraved. The rest are blank including one foresters found unearthed earlier this week.
Someone dug up two thirds of a grave.
"There were pieces of what looks like the top of the box," said Phil Feduna, agricultural crime investigator. "A casket or coffin laying up here on the ground by its feet."
An undercover investigator with the state said wood from the casket was stacked next to the grave.
Police don't know if there were bones in the casket.
The graves in the cemetery date back to the late 1800's or early 1900's, so the archaeologist said it's possible most of the bones have decomposed.
But, when police filled in the hole they found what they think is a piece of a bone from a pelvis.
It just blows my mind. I can't believe somebody would have disrespect and would want to do something like this," Feduna said.
Police said the first step in the investigation is to find out who was buried in the grave. This will not be easy.
With the exception of a couple of stones the grave was not marked.
Police don't believe anything valuable such as jewelry was buried with the body.
Disturbing a grave in Tennessee is a felony.
Police said grave desecration will not be tolerated and if they find the persons responsible in Wilson County, they will be charged.
kenb
