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05-02-2022
Bureau Report
MELBOURNE: Human remains have been taken from a Melbourne cemetery in two disturbing incidents of grave desecration.
Police are investigating after body parts, including a human head, were stolen by grave robbers at Footscray General Cemetery around January 28 and again on Tuesday.
Detective Acting Inspector Ben Jarman told 3AW the offenders broke into the mausoleum at the cemetery, opening the caskets and removing some body parts.
The motive behind the removal of the body parts and desecration remains unknown, but Detective Acting Inspector Jarman said the nature of the crime was “rare”.
“When police attended the coffins were open,” he said.
“I’m not going to discuss what type of body parts were removed due to the distressing nature of this, but their body parts were removed in both cases.
“This is a very rare event, I’m not sure what person is motivated to do this.”
Detective Acting Inspector Jarman said the two cases appeared to be connected regarding the type of offending, with the first occurring sometime between 7.30pm on January 27 and 6.15am on January 28.
The second case happened sometime between 6pm on January 31 and 10am yesterday.
There is no link between the victims targeted, however they were both elderly.
The mausoleum sustained a significant amount of damage during the break-in, but it has since been repaired.
“Nothing was left at the scene to identify what was used,” Detective Acting Inspector Jarman said.
“Yes it would be difficult to break into and there would have been some sort of equipment used.”
A section of the cemetery was cordoned off with place tape yesterday as detectives scoured the area for clues.
Security is set to man the cemetery to prevent another disturbing incident from occurring.
The charge for the crime would fall under theft and removal of a body part, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Investigators have urged anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area over the last week to come forward to police.
