Chicago Injury Law Blog

Burr Oak Cemetery is expected to re-open Aug.1, 2009 although some sections will remain closed for criminal investigation. 

Meanwhile, newly appointed caretaker Roman Szabelski plans to create a computerized database of records to help relatives determine where their loved ones are buried. Officials estimate at least 300 of 100,000 graves were tampered with.

Investigators still say they may never be able to identify all of the remains, largely due to poor record keeping. A particularly disturbing example of this can be found in “Baby Land,” an area of the cemetery Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart says appears to be missing. No maps for the area exist and several families allege they can no longer find headstones for children buried there.

Chicago personal injury lawyers at the William G. Pintas Law Firm are investigating an alleged scheme at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, where four workers reportedly dug up at least 300 bodies, dumped the bodies in a mass grave and resold the plots.

 Investigation also reveals bodies were double-buried in existing graves.

On July 9, 2009, authorities charged the workers with one count of dismembering a human body, a Class X felony.

The historic African-American cemetery is the burial place of civil-rights lynching victim Emmet Till. 

Cook County officials declared the 150-acre cemetery a crime scene and say it will stay closed through next week. More than 100,000 grave sites still need to be inspected.  The FBI says there is little hope of ever identifying all the remains.

Personal injury attorneys at William G. Pintas and Associates are currently representing families affected by the Burr Oak Cemetery scheme. If your loved one is a victim of this scandal, contact our law firm immediately to learn more about your legal rights.