Burr Oak Cemetery was the first cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, for African-Americans. The cemetery came under fire in July of 2009 after accusations that it re-sold graves.
Employees allegedly buried new bodies in the plots, but did so off the books so cemetery records would not show the bodies had been moved.
The cemetery home to many historic figures, including Emmett Till, blues musician Dinah Washington and heavyweight boxing champion Ezzard Charles.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
For at least the past four years, four employees under fire allegedly excavated entire burial caskets, including the concrete vault surrounding the coffin — and moving them to an area on the north end of the property. Tombs and headstones were broken to pieces.
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Fact:
The 4 employees charged with felony counts of dismembering a human body today include cemetery manager Carolyn Towns, 49, of Chicago, and three gravediggers: Keith Nicks, 45, and Terrence Nicks, 39, both of Chicago; and Maurice Dailey, 59, of Robbins
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Fact:
Up to 300 grave sites dug up and moved to new sites.
