The investigation into Burr Oak Cemetery revealed serious issues with its records. Initially, the cemetery had space for 130,000 graves, but it listed between 140,000 and 147,500 people as buried there. Some areas of the cemetery had never been used for burials. Carolyn Towns, the cemetery’s former director, and three employees faced charges for their roles in the scandal.
Authorities discovered that the individuals involved had become increasingly reckless in their actions, even using a backhoe to dig up older graves, which led to the destruction of countless bones. About 1,500 bones were recovered, and officials estimate that between 200 and 400 graves had been disturbed. Among the findings was the deteriorating casket of Emmett Till, which was found hidden in a garage behind the cemetery. This casket is now displayed at the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History.
To build their case, prosecutors needed solid evidence. The FBI collected not only skeletal remains but also broken branches and grass fragments for analysis. In 2009, the FBI contacted expert Dr. Von Konrat to help identify moss found buried with the remains. Understanding the moss’s decay could establish when the remains were reburied, creating an important timeline.
Dr. Von Konrat explained that moss can retain activity even when preserved. By analysing the chlorophyll levels in control samples, the team could estimate the age of the moss found at the site, which would assist in proving the timeline of the grave disturbances.
