Jul 8, 2009 6:04 am US/Eastern
Child Found In N.J. River Stolen From Conn. Grave
Coffin Exhumed Monday After Investigators Link Body To Connecticut Family; 2-Year-Old Found In Plastic Bag
Cops: Dumping May Be Part Of Some Bizarre Grave-Digging Ritual
STAMFORD, Conn. (CBS) ―
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The Passaic River was the site of a disturbing find recently as fishermen came across the body of a 2-year-old inside a plastic bag.
CBS
Police believe the body of the 2-year-old child discovered in the Passaic River on Sunday may have been removed from a grave at a Connecticut cemetery.
The body was discovered by a fisherman on the river's bank and was wrapped in a plastic bag.
Officer Richard Conklin said a coffin at Stamford Cemetery was exhumed after New Jersey medical examiners linked the body to a Connecticut family.
"On Monday, July 6, 2009, Stamford Police investigators with the Passaic county CSI unit and Clifton Police Department exhumed the coffin in Stamford and found it to be empty," Conklin said. "Additionally, the casket was damaged."
The toddler, who has not been identified, died of a pre-existing condition and was buried in 2007.
"The parents were shocked," Conklin said. "(They) had no reason to believe the child was not in the ground, and seemed to be quite shocked when we delivered the news."
Conklin added that police have yet to identify any suspects in the dumping. They are also looking into the possibility that the child may have been stolen as part of some ritual.
"We're looking into that," Conklin said. "At this point the body is being examined but the body was in remarkable condition."
The cemetery's caretaker, who has been working with investigators, declined to comment.
"I thank you for your cooperation and I need to refer you to the Stamford Police Department," he said.
Grave-digging was a common practice in the 18th century, but Connecticut police said it is also a problem in their state. Two skulls were recently found on top of a grave at another cemetery.
If convicted, the person responsible for dumping the body would face up to five years in prison.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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