Illinois Cemetery Reform not til 2010-YourFuneralGuy

Illinois Cemetery reform has put been put on hold till 2010 by the Illinois Senate. The Illinois Senate wants to hold it’s own hearings on Cemetery reform. This legislation was approved by the Illinois house  and submitted to the Illinois Senate.

On Friday the Illinois Senate President called for more hearings responding to private cemetery objections. this reform is desperately needed and as up to 300 graves were desecrated at Burr Oak Cemetery near Chicago

CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that the proposed reforms were buried on Friday amid concerns from private for-profit cemeteries who wanted to be excluded from many of the requirements in the proposal.

On Thursday, the reforms passed overwhelmingly in the Illinois House and the sponsors predicted it would also pass easily in the State Senate.

But Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) did not allow that vote on Friday. Instead, he planned to call another round of public hearings on cemetery reform — time and place still uncertain.

via cbs2chicago.com

Illinois Representative Bill Black R-Danville came out on the side of the cemeteries and spoke out against the reform.

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Illinois Proposes Cemetery Reform-YourFuneralGuy

Illinois has proposed Cemetery Reform. Legislation has passed the Illinois House of Representatives Executive Committee. The Legislation is set to go to the full Illinois House. The legislation was developed in reaction to the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal near Chicago.

The legislation introduces background checks, licensing and registration  at cemeteries. The proposed law requires cemeteries to have maps and burial records. Cemeteries must be properly maintained.  Managers are to provide key info to state database that will keep track of who is buried where.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, unveiled the legislation as proponents contended it would “put teeth” in lax state oversight laws that contributed to the Burr Oak tragedy, where graves were desecrated. Several Burr Oak workers were charged in a scheme to dig up as many as 300 bodies and resell burial plots…..via newsblogs.chicagotribune.com

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Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal |Horror|Incompetent owners in Control-your funeral guy

There is more horror in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Perpetua the old owners are back!

OUTRAGE-The incompetent owners  whose questionable (criminal?) behavior brought on the great Burr Oak Cemetery Grave desecrations are back in Control.

The Cook County Sheriff has vowed to do what he can to wrestle the keys away from Perpetua, Inc. The Cemetery is still closed. How do the owners think they will operate here in Illinois. All Hell is about to break lose!

Snippet From the Chicago Tribune:

“Roman Szabelski, the receiver appointed by a court to sort out the Burr Oak mess left the cemetery shortly after 9.30 a.m. after handing the cemetery keys to Perpetua spokeswoman Trudi Foushee. Perpetua is now in charge of clean-up operations at the cemetery.”

The problem with settling sca ndals like burr Oak cemetery in court is that the wheels of justice turn way too slowly.

The two other active Perpetua Scandals happening are

Wade Funeral Home  in St. Louis and from another Chicago Newspaper:

“Reports show Slivy Edmonds Cotton, who remains listed under Perpetua management, and Portico LLM Enterprises took over the Pet Cemetery of Tucson in 2008.

Portico sued the former owner this summer, alleging fraud and misconduct, including selling headstones that were not provided and breaking into Portico offices to delete files.

At Perpetua, Edmonds Cotton oversaw Cedar Park, 12540 S. Halsted St. She told the Daily Southtown in 2000 she was inspired by Cedar Park’s uniqueness and beauty.——-Daily Southtown. http://www.southtownstar.com/burr-oak/1723194,081909perpetua.article”

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Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal|Sheriff’s Database complete-yourfuneralguy

The County Sheriff has completed the Database for Burr Cemetery. This means that families can determine if there loved ones are located there by searching for a grave. This increases the possibility that the Cemetery may reopen soon. There has been no date announced.

The Burr Oak  Cemetery Scandal was discovered in 2009. There were  nearly three hundred graves disturbed and bones discarded and piled up around  the cemetery. Four People were arrested.

You can get help at the the Burr Oak Website :www.burroak.net

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Burr oak cemetery pic from religion dispatches.org

Burr Oak Cemetey Scandal:Illinois Panel Wants Owner,Perpetua-YourFuneralGuy

The panel appointed by the Governor of the State of Illinois Patrick Quinn to investigate the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal wants to hear from the owners, Perpetua Inc.

Members of the panel,Cemetery Oversight Task Force are to report on September 15th 2009.

The Illinois Panel wants to ask owners, Perpetua Inc about negligent to no oversight of the cemetery.

Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois is the cemeterywhere four workers are indicted on human body desecreation, theft, and digging up bodies(disinternmemt). They also  double-stacking coffins without family permission.

There is  news according to my sources in the other Perpetua, Inc Scandal. Deborah Kellom  convicted of stealing funds from  Wade Funeral Home a Perpetua property will be sentenced  at the end of August. She originally was supposed to be before a judge on July 24th.

Wade Funeral Home does up to 10 million dollars a year.

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More information on Perpetua, Inc here

You can find  out more and get help and more information  the Burr Oak Cemetery here:

Cook County Sheriff’s website:www.burroak.net

Burr oak cemetery pic from religion dispatches.org

Source1:cemeterytaskforce.illinois

Source2:chicagobreakingnews.com

Burr Oak Cemetery No Longer a Crime Scene-YourFuneralGuy

The latest news in the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal is that it is no longer a crime scene. This is according to the Cook County Sheriff’’s website. The cemetery has been turned over to the Court Receiver. “BURR OAK CEMETERY WILL NOT BE REOPENED AT THIS TIME”

There is enough evidence gathered for prosecution. The Sheriff sees no need to excavate the cemetery for months or years.

As mentioned in the previous post the recovered bones will not undergo DNA testing. The investigation will continue off site.

From the Press Page at the Cook County Sheriffs Website.

“The turning over of day-to-day operations to the receiver is a step towards allowing the cemetery to conduct normal business,” Dart said.  “I want to thank the public for their patience during the time we were forced to close the cemetery to process the crime scenes and ask for their continued patience while Mr. Szabelski continues to work towards re-opening Burr Oak.  I hope that everything that has been done will help ease the pain of those with loved ones buried here and allow them to finally have some closure in this matter.”

Community Members have come together to form the Chicago Burr Oak  Cemetery Historical Society. They are working together to find a fan appropriate memorial for the bones unearthed at Burr Oak Cemetery.

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal|For some no answers-

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Burr Oak cemetery pic from Dallas News.

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal:FBI says bones|not to be DNA tested-YourFuneralGuy

There will Be No DNA testing on 1,100 discarded bones at Burr Oak cemetery

There will Be No DNA testing on 1,100 discarded bones at Burr Oak cemetery. The Chicago office of the FBI has stated that the bones recovered from Burr Oak Cemetery will not be tested.

This will come as a disappointment to many families would like to know whether or not there deceased relatives were among those who were dug up.The relatives of those desecrated are the victims.

We will never know the identities of many that were taken out of their graves. Approximately1,100 bones were recovered.

Assistant Special Agent Trautmann Director of the Chicago FBI office stated on August 7th 2009 :

“Even if we could’ve obtained the DNA profile from bones … then we have the problem of who we compare that to, not knowing who those bones belong to”

Cook County Sheriff Dart stated:

“For those individuals who are looking for every part of human remains that were disinterred to be recovered, that is not going to occur, it cannot occur,”

DNA testing on 1,100 Bones recovered in Burr Oak Grave Robbing Scandal is not to happen

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You can get some help here: Cook County Sheriff’s website:www.burroak.net

Burr oak cemetery pic from religion dispatches.org

Source: The Huffington Post

Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal: Four Arrested Indicted-yourfuneralguy

On August 6th 2009  the four people arrested in the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal were indicted by the Cook County States Attorney. When they were arrested they were charged with dismemberment of a human body(class x felony).

At the Burr Oak Cemetery nearly 300 graves were disturbed and bones were piled up at different locations. Four people were arrested.

Other indictments are listed below that were returned by a grand jury.

two counts of theft

unlawful removal of grave stones

desecration of human remains

unlawful removal of deceased human beings from a burial ground.

conspiracy to remove human remains.

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Huffington Post

Bodies Piling up: LA Reality to become National Trend?-yourfuneralguy

Will the Piling up of Bodies be a National Trend?

Bodies piling up at the Los Angeles and The Burr Oak Cemetery, near Chicago may become a national trend. It all goes back to the recession and people not having enough money to bury their Loved Ones. In LA the cremation of indigent loved ones is up 36%. People just cannot afford to pick up their dead.

In Illinois the State has suspended full funding of indigent burials and people are concerned that bodies may pile up there as well. The reality of the situation is that most funeral homes will not pickup the bill without significant reimbursement.

From the examiner.com in Chicago:

“Just as cemetery owners are battling bad press from the Burr Oak’s scandal, where bodies were dug up so cemetery staffers could double-dip on grave sales, funeral directors find out the state is killing its tradition of paying for funerals of the poor.

The bodies are going to pile up, predicts Chris Wooldridge, President of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, in a press release.”

“As the voice of funeral service in Illinois we are gravely concerned this scenario will become a reality,” Wooldridge warns.

The recession has many funeral homes and funeral directors struggling. The situation is made worse in Illinois by the Illinois Funeral Directors Preneed Ponzi.Scheme.

A case can be made that bodies will pile up at cemeteries as well.
Funeral Director and new IFDA President Chris Woodridge knows all about the pile ups.
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Human Bone Found | at south Glenwood Cemetery-YourFuneralguy

Human bone found at another Chicago area cemetery subject of a lawsuit

Update on Illinois Cemetery Scandal(s): A human bone was found at Glenwood Cemetery. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said  Friday that an unidentified bone was found at the Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens.

The bone was discovered at the South Cemetery location at 18301 E. Glenwood Thornton Rd.,  Glenwood by a vault worker who was  making a delivery. The Medical Examiner did an autopsy Saturday  determined the bone to be human on 7.25.09

It was posted here three people filed a lawsuit against the cemetery, outlining a similar scheme like the Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal.

The Glenwood Cemetery is not a crime scene. The  Sheriff is involved, but there is no report that the Cemetery is closed which most likely would not happen on the basis of one bone that was human remains.

This more sad news in a horriffic situation.

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