Baby's grave among those desecrated at cemetery

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A cemetery owner is speaking out after someone made a horrific discovery at her cemetery.

Esther King recently went to the Lincoln Memorial Park to visit some deceased relatives when she found a baby's stone tomb cracked open. "That's a baby. That's a baby that's about six to seven months old. That's a baby," King said.

King looked inside the grave and discovered that the child's body was still there, but the baby boy's head was missing. King said, "That is not godly."

The boy's tomb was one of many found with its concrete cover removed at the cemetery along Northwest 46th Street and 29th Avenue.

Both King and the cemetery's owner, Ellen Johnson, believe the vandals responsible use the bones they take from the graves for Santeria rituals. "It's some type of ritual," said King.

Johnson agreed. "They take the bones to use in their rituals," she said.

The vandalized graves are extremely old and no longer have name plates, so it is unknown who was in the tombs. Still, King cannot believe someone would disrespect the deceased in such a manner. "I know that this stuff does exist," she said, "but, hey, let's show some respect."

Johnson is now hoping authorities find out who desecrated the tombs inside her business. "I want to see it stopped. I want to see someone arrested," said Johnson.

Johnson said she was just made aware of the vandalism and has not yet made a police report.

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