(May 24, 2013 - Augusta, Ga) The graves of at least five people were desecrated by grave robbers earlier this year in Burke County, Georgia, including a judge, two Confederate soldiers, and two women. In addition, authorities discovered the scattered bones and skull of an infant. After an effective investigation by the Burke County Sheriff's Department, both suspects have now been detained and are awaiting trial.
Upon obtaining the name of a second suspect as a result of the original arrest, the sheriff's department asked for the public's help in locating the second suspect. Not long after, the sheriff's department received a tip from a resident there in Burke County that the suspect was believed to be hiding out in the home of another man on Hancock Landing Road. According to Sgt. Sean Cochran of the Burke County Sheriff's Department, the second suspect had been keeping a low profile by disguising himself as a women wearing wigs and dresses whenever he ventured outside the home. When officers burst into the home where the suspect was hiding, the suspect ran to the back door; but upon opening it, he was met face to face with "Storm," the German Shepherd of one of the DNR rangers assisting in the case. The suspect decided to take his chances with the officers inside instead but after a short tussle was detained.
The original suspect is also being held in Richmond County on methamphetamine charges. So far, only an 1817 penny which was taken by one of the suspects to a local pawn shop has been recovered.
The Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans congratulates the Burke County Sheriff's Department for an outstanding job in quickly finding the suspects of this case. The Sons of Confederate Veterans is advocating for the maximum sentence upon conviction in this crime as a deterrent to all future would-be grave robbers in Georgia.
For more information, please contact Jack Bridwell, Division Commander for the Georgia Sons of Confederate Veterans at 1-866-SCV-in-GA or view information online at
www.GeorgiaSCV.org.
