Posted on 08/25/2005 8:26:58 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (AP) A young man performing court-ordered community service in a cemetery has been charged with desecrating a Civil War-era tomb, pulling apart the skeleton, and posing for pictures with the skull and other bones.
``It's bizarre, absolutely bizarre,'' police Lt. Richard Siemasko said. ``I can't even imagine what was in his head. This is just a whole new level of weird for me.''
Neil J. Goodwin Jr., 19, of Salisbury, was working at the city's Old Hill Burying Ground on Aug. 17 as part of his court-ordered community service for a burglary conviction.
Prosecutors said Goodwin, who was on probation for breaking into an apartment building last fall, kicked in the thin marble entrance to the tomb marked ``1863 Pierce,'' and twisted off the decomposed corpse's spine, collarbone and skull.
Police said they got an anonymous tip on Saturday, and later received three photos of Goodwin holding the bones. Police would not say who took the pictures or identified Goodwin, but they do not expect to make more arrests.
Investigators found the skull in a hole about 15 feet from the tomb.
Goodwin was arraigned Wednesday in Newburyport District Court on charges of desecrating a corpse and breaking into a tomb, both felonies. He was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail and is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 22.
Siemasko said the city plans to hire a funeral home to piece the skeleton back together, so it can be replaced in its casket.
Police were still trying to determine the exact identity of the grave's occupant, but the body could be that of Civil War veteran Willard Balch Pierce, according to curator Jay Williamson of the Historical Society of Old Newbury.
Twisted off?
Uh...I have a pretty good idea.
I suddenly realize I've been sitting here "agape" the whole time reading this... That young person is headed in the wrong direction fast. Undoubtedly I'll be paying his rent for much of his life.
Place the knucklehead in the tomb until the "body" is repaired...
Old Hill Newbury cemetery ping...
I'm thinking a black concert t-shirt, bad tattoos, IQ about 80...?
They should do to him what he did to the skeleton and see how he likes it.
Best line in the story, IMHO.
"Was this guy a descendant of General Sherman or something?"
His middle initial is J. It must be for "Jackson."
ping
This "citizen" is too young and probably too illiterate for the old EC Vault of Horror comics but his story sounds like the first half of one. The second half is when his victim returns to wreak a suitably gory vengeance.
Very interesting, thanks for posting that link.
It happened in Massachusetts, they'll probably sentence him to community service.
BUMP
What a sicko!
Just another member of the DNC - probably friends of the jerk that had picture of him dancing On President Reagan's grave.
Dumbing Down some more at our "fine institutes of learning" the public school system.
Nah, those were their dead, not ours. LOL...
Maybe this time it'll be with animals or children, so he can't cause any more harm.
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