Burr Oak Cemetery

Michelle Obama's Ancestors: LaVaughn Johnson

Megan Smolenyak | Posted 04.09.2012

Read More: Flotus, Michelle Obama, St. Louis, Burr Oak Cemetery, Heritage, LaVaughn Johnson, Barack Obama, History, Bud Billiken Parade, First Lady, Pullman Porters, Chicago, Roots, Fraser Robinson, Genealogy, James Preston Johnson, Family History, Phoebe Moten, Great Migration, Celebrity News
Megan Smolenyak

Of Michelle's grandparents, LaVaughn Johnson was the most like her. A native Chicagoan, she was an early product of the mixing effect of the Great Migration with parents of radically different histories.

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Joseph Erbentraut

WATCH: Film Tackles Scandal At Historic Black Cemetery

HuffingtonPost.com | Joseph Erbentraut | Posted 01.06.2012

Read More: Chicago Kickstarters, Can They Kick It, Burr Oak Cemetery Charges, Video, Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal, Burr Oak Cemetery Alsip, Chicago Documentaries, Chicago Films, Chicago Impact, Chicago News

In the summer of 2009, three gravediggers and a cemetery manager in Alsip, Ill., 12 miles south of Chicago, were exposed in an elaborate money-grubbin...

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Burr Oak Tragedy's Mastermind Sentenced To 12 Years

Posted 09.07.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal, Grave Reselling, Emmett Till, Burr Oak Bodies, Burr Oak, Jesse Jackson, Willie Dixon, More Bodies Burr Oak, Graverobber, Archaeology, Dinah Washington, Carolyn Towns, Chicago News

Fifty-one-year-old Carolyn Towns, of Blue Island, pleaded guilty and was convicted of a bevy of charges related to her oversight of an under-the-table...

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More Dumped Bodies Found At Burr Oak Cemetery

The Huffington Post | Jen Sabella | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak, Burr Oak Bodies, Burr Oak Cemetery, More Bodies Burr Oak, Cook County Sheriff Tome Dart, Archaeology, Tom Dart, Chicago News

In 2009, a massive grave desecration scandal was uncovered at Burr Oak Cemetery in suburban Alsip. Graves were dug up, double-stacked and destroyed. T...

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Burr Oak Cemetery: A Year After Scandal, Little Has Changed

Chicago Sun-Times | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak, Illinois, Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal, Perpetua Holdings, Chicago, Chicago News

Though the entry gates and some signs have been replaced, not much has changed in the historic black cemetery in the year since Cook County Sheriff To...

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Sheriff Wants To Stop New Burials At Burr Oak

Southtown Star | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Burr Oak Cemetery, Cook County Sheriff, Tom Dart, Tom Dart Burr Oak, Cook County Assessor, Chicago, Burr Oak, Illinois, Chicago News

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is trying to prevent new burials from taking place in a 10-acre parcel of Burr Oak cemetery where human remains were dug ...

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Burr Oak Lawsuit: Nellie Riley Claims Cemetery 'Desecrated' Bodies

Chicago Tribune | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Cemetery, Nellie Riley, Burr Oak Scandal, Chicago, Burr Oak Bodies, Burr Oak, Cook County Circuit Court, Illinois, Perpetua, Chicago News

Burr Oak Cemetery was sued today by a woman who says her relatives' remains were knowingly desecrated in order to resell their burial plots. ...

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Burr Oak Cemetery, Site Of Grave Desecration Scandal, Up For Auction Today

Chicago Tribune | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal, Perpetua Holdings, Burr Oak Scandal, Chicago, Burr Oak, Burr Oak Auction, Perpetua, Illinois, Burr Oak Cemetery Auction, Chicago News

Scandal-plagued Burr Oak Cemetery today will move one step closer toward a new owner. A public auction is scheduled to be held this afternoon at the ...

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Burr Oak Memo Reveals Internal Conflicts About Cemetery Desecration

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Illinois Governor, Illinois Governor Democrat, Burr Oak Cemetery, Dan Hynes, Pat Quinn, Illinois Governor 2010, Illinois Democratic Primary, Burr Oak Scandal, Chicago, Burr Oak, Illinois, Illinois Primary, Burr Oak Hynes, Illinois Primary 2010, Gov. Pat Quinn, Chicago News

Burr Oak Cemetery executives knew about the elaborate grave reselling scheme there as early as 2003, and discussed the issue with the comptroller's of...

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Undecided Voters Likely to Defeat Governor Quinn

David Ormsby | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, Burr Oak Cemetery, Chicago Tribune Poll, Dan Hynes, Pat Quinn, Jan Schakowsky, Nick Panagakis, Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago News, Harold Washington, Market Shares Corporation, Jacky Grimshaw, Illinois Politics, Chicago Tribune, Andy McKenna, Chicago News
David Ormsby

A new poll in the 2010 Illinois Democratic primary for governor has Governor Pat Quinn's lead over Comptroller Dan Hynes shaved to 4 points. Gulp.

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Pat Quinn Attacks Dan Hynes For Burr Oak Cemetery Handling

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn, Burr Oak Cemetery, Illinois Governor 2010, Dan Hynes, Chicago, Burr Oak, Illinois Governor Race, Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn, Pat Quinn Ad, Dan Hynes Burr Oak, Video, Chicago News

In response to a recent attack ad by rival Dan Hynes, the campaign of Governor Pat Quinn has released a 30-second spot hitting Hynes for his handling ...

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Pat Quinn, Dan Hynes Attack Each Other In Debate

Chicago Sun-Times | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Pat Quinn, Burr Oak Cemetery, 2010 Elections, Dan Hynes, Illinois Governor Race, Governor Pat Quinn, Governor, Comptroller Dan Hynes, 2010 Debate, Elections 2010, Chicago News

They shook hands at the end and said they'd still be friends, but for an hour, Gov. Quinn and challenger Dan Hynes accused each other of incompetence,...

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Old Caskets Found In New Plots At Burr Oak Cemetery

Chicago Sun-Times | LISA DONOVAN | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak, Burr Oak Bodies, Burr Oak Graves, Burr Oak Caskets, Burr Oak Cemetery Alsip Il, Burr Oak Cemetery, Chicago News

Since the embattled Burr Oak Cemetery quietly resumed burials this fall, grave diggers in three separate cases have broken ground on what they thought...

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Burr Oak Cemetery: Thousands Of Bodies Over Capacity

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cemetery Scam, Burr Oak Cemetery, Chicago, Burr Oak, Chicago News, Bodies Dug Up, Bodies, Cook County, Alsip, Tom Dart, Chicago News

If the prospect of graves being dug up, double-stacked and destroyed was not unsettling enough, the Associated Press reported Tuesday that the Burr Oa...

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Burr Oak Cemetery Reopening, Tickets Required To Visit Graves

AP | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak, Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Reopening, Burr Oak Closed, Burr Oak Burial Plots, Chicago News

ALSIP, Ill. — A Chicago-area cemetery that was shut down after four former workers were accused of digging up graves in a scheme to resell buria...

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Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal: More Bodies Found

AP | DON BABWIN | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Bodies, Burr Oak Graves, Burr Oak, Burr Oak Cemetery, Black Cemetery, Chicago, Alsip, Burr Oak Burial Plots, Chicago News

CHICAGO — Officials at a historic black cemetery in suburban Chicago where former workers allegedly dug up graves in a scheme to resell burial p...

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Original Burr Oak Owners Regain Control Of Cemetery After Bankruptcy

ABC 7 | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Cemetery Oversight Task Force, Burr Oak Task Force Report, Burr Oak Cemetery, Perpetua Holdings, Burr Oak, Perpetua Bankrupt, Burr Oak Cemetery Owner, Video, Chicago News

A day after the task force put together by Governor Pat Quinn to investigate what happened at Burr Oak Cemetery released recommendations for more stat...

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Burr Oak Cemetery Desecration Suspects Plead Not Guilty

AP | DON BABWIN | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Suspects, Burr Oak Cemetery Alsip Il, Burr Oak Charges, Burr Oak Bodies, Cemetery Desecration, Gravedigging, Chicago News

CHICAGO — Four former cemetery workers pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges accusing them of digging up bodies at a historic suburban Chicag...

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Burr Oak Workers Lose Jobs As Cemetery Runs Out Of Money

SouthtownStar | LAUREN FITZPATRICK | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Roman Szabelski, Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Cemetery Workers, Burr Oak Investigation, Burr Oak Cemetery Scandal, Chicago News

Burr Oak's remaining eight workers have been laid off since Friday when the cemetery's receiver learned in court he couldn't make payroll, the Southto...

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Authorities Stop Collecting Evidence At Desecrated Burr OakAuthorities Stop Collecting Evidence At Desecrated Burr Oak

AP | DON BABWIN | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Evidence, Burr Oak Investigation, Burr Oak Bodies, Burr Oak Bones, Tom Dart, Chicago News

ALSIP, Ill. — Investigators stopped collecting evidence Friday at a historic black cemetery in suburban Chicago where workers allegedly dug up c...

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4 Former Burr Oak Cemetery Workers Indicted For Dismembering, Desecrating Human Remains

AP | DON BABWIN | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Trial, Burr Oak Scheme, Carolyn Towns, Maurice Dailey, Keith Nicks, Terrence Nicks, Chicago News

CHICAGO — Four workers accused of digging up corpses at a historic Chicago-area cemetery as part of a scheme to resell plots have been indicted ...

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Cops Dropped Burr Oak Case In 2005 Despite Finding Human Bones

Chicago Tribune | Kim Janssen | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Alsip Police Burr Oak, Burr Oak Cemetery Alsip Il, Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Bones, Burr Oak Investigation, Carolyn Towns, Chicago News

Alsip police found human bones and shattered vaults dumped in plain view at Burr Oak Cemetery four years ago but detectives dropped the case within a ...

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More Burial Vaults Found Dumped In Woods At Burr Oak Cemetery

AP | DON BABWIN | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Burr Oak Burial Vaults, Burr Oak Graves, Burr Oak Headstones, Burr Oak Graves Search, Burr Oak Bodies, Chicago News

ALSIP, Ill. — Skeletal remains of a man wearing a suit and tie were found sitting in a burial vault with no casket in sight at a historic black ...

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Skeleton In Suit And Tie Found Without Casket At Burr Oak

AP | DON BABWIN | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Bodies, Burr Oak Skeleton, Burr Oak Graves, Burr Oak Scheme, Cemetery Desecration, Tom Dart, Chicago News

ALSIP, Ill. — Skeletal remains of a man wearing a suit and tie were found sitting in a burial vault with no casket in sight at a historic black ...

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Congressional Panel Holds Burr Oak Cemetery Hearing (VIDEO)

AP | Rupa Shenoy | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Bobby Rush, Illinois Cemetery Regulations, Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak Hearing, Bobby Rush Burr Oak, Burr Oak Congress, Burr Oak Cemtery Oversight, Dan Hynes, Jesse Jackson Jr., Video, Danny Davis, Chicago News

CHICAGO (AP) -- A patchwork of inconsistent state laws governing cemeteries allow scandals like one in suburban Chicago, where four people are accused...

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