4 charged with digging up graves, reselling plots

-- Four people face felony charges after authorities discovered that hundreds of graves were dug up and allegedly resold at a historic African-American cemetery near Chicago, Illinois, authorities said Thursday.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said the four would resell the plots in Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, excavate the graves, dump the remains and pocket the cash.

"This was not done in a very, very delicate way, folks," he told reporters at a news conference Thursday.

"They would excavate a grave and would proceed to dump the remains wherever they found a place to do it in the back of the cemetery. This was not moving graves; this was not replacing graves; this was dumping of them."

In some cases, graves were stacked on top of each other, they "literally pounded the other one down," Dart said. In all about 300 graves may have been dug up in the cemetery, he said.

Authorities identified those charged as Carolyn Towns, an office manager for the cemetery; and Keith Nicks, Terrance Nicks and Maurice Daley, all gravediggers.

Each has been charged with dismembering a human body, a felony charge for which sentences range from 6 to 30 years, Anita Alvarez, Cook County state's attorney, said at the news conference.

Steven Watkins, an attorney for Towns, said his client is innocent. "Somebody is apparently making false accusations against my client," he said. "She's maintaining her innocence."

The Cook County state attorney's office said the other three charged were being represented by the public defender's office, and a message left at that office was not immediately returned.

Bail was set at $250,000 for Towns and $200,000 for the other three, Alvarez said. None had posted bail by late afternoon Thursday, the sheriff's department said. 

It was not immediately known if the four had legal counsel.

Authorities began investigating the cemetery -- where, among others, lynching victim Emmett Till, blues legend Dinah Washington and some Negro League baseball players are buried -- about six weeks ago after receiving a call from its owners who had concerns about possible "financial irregularities" regarding the business, Dart told CNN earlier this week.

"This crime, it's a whole new dimension," Alvarez said. Authorities also suspect that Towns pretended to set up a memorial fund for Till and pocketed the funds, Dart said. 

He told CNN that groundskeepers, who have not been implicated in the scheme, have said that the grave of Till -- whose 1955 lynching at age 14 helped spark the civil rights movement -- has not been disturbed.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was also at the news conference, noted the high-profile names of some of those buried in the cemetery, but said, "everybody here is special, and every family has special needs and special hurt, special grief."

Most of the excavations occurred in back lots, where the plots were older and not frequently visited, Dart said earlier this week. However, other plots may have been disturbed, as well.

The cemetery's current owners, who could not be reached by CNN for comment, have operated it for more than five years but are not believed to be involved in the alleged scam, Dart said.

He said the workers may have doctored records to cover their tracks and noted that the cemetery holds all the records of who is buried and where.

"There's virtually no regulations whatsoever (for cemeteries)," Dart said. "Most all of the documents and everything are housed here."

Investigators are trying to determine the scope of the alleged scheme and plan to use thermal-imaging devices to further examine other graves to see if they have been tampered with, Dart said.

The FBI, forensic scientists and local funeral directors have been called in to help in the investigation, he said."I don't even know what to tell you about the heartbreaking stories that I've been hearing from people, crying hysterically that they're going through the burial for the second time today," he said.

"And they're looking for answers and we're sitting there telling them, 'This is going to be very difficult," he said. "We're trying to bring closure, but it's going to take a long time to do that." 

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The Bottom Of The Modeling Barrel.

Police call McNair killing a murder-suicide

The girlfriend of former NFL star Steve McNair first shot him in his right temple, then fired three more shots at close range, most likely as he slept, police said Wednesday.  Steve McNair, 36, spent 13 seasons in the NFL, the majority with the Tennessee Titans.  She then sat on the couch next to his body, and killed herself so that she would fall into his lap, they said.

"The totality of the evidence clearly points to a murder-suicide," Nashville, Tennessee, Police Chief Ronal Serpas told reporters at an afternoon news conference.  McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, were found fatally shot in a condominium in downtown Nashville on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

"McNair was seated on the sofa and likely was asleep, and we believe that Kazemi shot him in the right temple, then shot him twice in the chest, and then shot him a final time in the left temple," Serpas said. Watch police chief describe murder-suicide »

"Kazemi then positioned herself next to McNair on the sofa and shot herself once in the right temple and expired. ... We do believe she tried to stage that when she killed herself, she would fall in his lap."  A trace of gunshot residue was found on her left hand, he said. Kazemi used a 9 mm handgun, Serpas said.  McNair was married and had four children. Serpas said he had spoken with McNair's wife Wednesday to update her on the investigation.  The police chief said Kazemi had become rattled over the last week, believing that McNair was involved with another woman. "She had become very distraught and on two occasions told friends and associates that her life was all messed up and that she was going to end it all," Serpas said.  He said Kazemi had seen another person leave the condo a few days before and was concerned "whether or not her relationship was unraveling with Mr. McNair."

"There was evidence that she was spinning out of control," Serpas said.  He added that there was no evidence found at the condo indicating anyone else was there at the time of the deaths, which is believed to be after 1 a.m. Saturday.  Dr. Feng Li, the assistant medical examiner who has been handling the case, told CNN earlier Wednesday that all evidence was "indicating that she killed Mr. McNair and killed herself."

"It's almost an assured thing. We have to be convinced otherwise," Li said. See McNair's football bio »

The coroner said he will not finalize the "manner of death" on Kazemi's death certificate until he has final lab test results, which are a few days away.

"I have to have everything together, and then I make the opinion," he said. "We want to be as thorough and as detailed as possible."

Li said Kazemi was found face-down in the condo with the gun underneath her. The autopsy indicates she shot herself once through her right temple. "She was found on the feet of Mr. McNair, who sat on the sofa," he said.

"It's very hard for everybody involved," Li said. "Our thoughts and prayers go to the families."

Earlier in the week, police said that on Thursday evening, Kazemi purchased the pistol found at the scene. Hours before the purchase, Kazemi was pulled over in a traffic stop and charged with driving under the influence. She was accompanied by McNair in a Cadillac Escalade he had purchased for her.  McNair was allowed to leave the scene in a taxi after Kazemi was given a field sobriety test.  On Friday night, Kazemi who worked as a waitress told a co-worker "that she was thinking about ending it," Serpas said.  Police found their bodies in the condo -- leased to McNair and his friend Wayne Neeley -- about 1:30 p.m. Saturday.  The two had been dead for hours before Neeley, who had to use a key to enter the building, discovered the clothed bodies Saturday afternoon, according to police. Neeley then called his friend Robert Gaddy, who arrived at the condo and called police.  Serpas said it is unusual for such a time gap, but "not unheard of." He said police do not believe the crime scene was tampered.  McNair spent 13 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Tennessee Titans, where he excelled on the field as quarterback. He was named the NFL's co-MVP in 2003 and spent his last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before announcing his retirement in April 2008.  The Titans reached the Super Bowl in 2000, losing to the St. Louis Rams. McNair led the Titans in a dramatic comeback that day, with a final tying touchdown coming up a yard short.

"Any death is tragic," the Nashville police chief said, "and the deaths we're talking about today are tragic to the families of all involved and tragic to our community."

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Bret Michaels' Tour Bus Involved in 5-Car Pile-Up

Bret Michael's tour bus was involved in a five car pile-up in Toronto on the Fourth of July.

According to a statement released by his Web site, the singer and his band were traveling from a Poison concert in Toronto to St. Paul, Minn. when a car lost control and slid into the side of the bus.

The collision, which happened in Toronto, caused a five car pile-up on the highway. There was damage to all vehicles involved, but no serious injuries were reported.

Michaels and the band were released from the scene following an investigation, the statement says.

On Sunday, he performed at the "Taste of Minnesota" musical festival with his solo band. He'll rejoin the Poison tour tomorrow in Hartford, Conn.

Last month, Michaels broke his nose and busted his lip after injuring himself during the opening number of the Tony Awards. Michaels, who was performing "Nothin' But a Good Time" with Poison and the cast of Broadway's Rock of Ages, was knocked to the ground after running into a piece of scenery.

"I had a great time at the Tonys right up until I got blindsided," he said. "In hindsight, there is no doubt I got my bell rung. Unfortunately it has been posted and perhaps funny to watch, but I can assure you it has been painful to experience."

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Woman allegedly pranks her grandma 45 times in day

CAMBRIDGE, Minn. (AP) -- A 21-year-old woman faces felony charges after allegedly prank-calling her 69-year-old grandmother 45 times in one day, threatening to kill her. The woman faces five felony counts including harassment. A criminal complaint said she told police she was "bored" and "wanted to have some fun."

The woman and a 20-year-old friend, also facing charges, allegedly called the older woman on Feb. 5 and said "I'm gonna kill you," "You're going to die" and "I'm watching you.  Police officers answered some calls for the grandmother and heard a female caller make threats.  The criminal complaint said the suspect told investigators she wanted to scare her grandmother but didn't want her dead. She said she knew it was wrong but not illegal.

Sharpton And Jesse Jackson Need To Move On To Their Next Meal Ticket And Leave MJ's Family Alone!

Whenever there is money to be made, up will pop the head's of Al Sharpton and Jesse "I can make anything racial" Jackson.  These two fellows are like a bad where is waldo skit.  Where their is a chance to further divide people and play the race card as well as cash in, up pops these two.  The Jackson family will have enough issues trying to cash in on Michael's death they don't need these two trying to weasel in on their cut.  Michael, I truly feel for you.  I could never imagine spending your life on earth surrounded by so many Vultures. 

Former NFL QB Steve McNair found shot to death

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was shot multiple times, including once in the head, at a Nashville, Tennessee, condominium, authorities said Saturday.

Steve McNair, 36, spent 13 seasons in the NFL, the majority with the Tennessee Titans. Police said they found McNair and a woman identified as Sahel Kazemi shot to death after receiving a phone call about an injured person. McNair's body was found seated on a living room sofa, authorities said. Kazemi sustained a gunshot wound to the head, authorities said. Police also said a pistol was found near her body. Autopsies were scheduled for Sunday.

Asked whether the shooting was a murder-suicide, Don Aaron, spokesman for the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department, said investigators have not classified the incident . He said investigators have not ruled out anything but added that they were not "actively looking at suspects" Saturday night.

"I suspect we'll have something to say tomorrow," Aaron said.

The bodies were found just two days after Kazemi was pulled over in a Cadillac Escalade, registered to her and McNair, and charged with a DUI, Aaron said. McNair was in the vehicle at the time. Although Aaron described Kazemi as McNair's "friend," a law enforcement source close to the investigation said that the woman is McNair's girlfriend and that the residence is her condominium in downtown Nashville. Witnesses said McNair was a frequent visitor at the condominium. Authorities were questioning people who were near the home, but they said no one was in custody. Police could not provide details about the circumstances of the shooting. Investigators don't think McNair's wife, Mechelle, who is "very distraught," was involved, Aaron said. McNair's family issued a statement through a spokesman Saturday, saying, "The families of Steve McNair in Mississippi and Tennessee appreciate the concern, thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of our lost of a husband, father and son. The family requests everyone would allow them time to mourn." McNair's brother, Fred, also confirmed the death but had no immediate details. McNair, 36, spent 13 seasons in the NFL, the majority with the Tennessee Titans, and was named the NFL's co-MVP along with Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning in 2003. He spent his last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before announcing his retirement in April 2008 . The owner of the Titans, Bud Adams Jr., said in a statement that the organization was "saddened and shocked" to hear of McNair's death.

"He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans," Adams said.

"He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl."

The Titans marked a Super Bowl loss to the St. Louis Rams in 2000. McNair attended Alcorn State in Mississippi. Dozens of fans who rushed to the crime scene were rattled by the news of McNair's death.

"I'm in shock. It's so hard to believe," Sonya Hughes told CNN affiliate WKRN. "Tennessee Titans, Steve McNair -- on the Fourth of July. Ludy Wallace, former Nashville city councilman, remembered McNair as a "friendly" guy.

"I think he made an everlasting impression with people he came in contact with and the people that attended his [football] camps," Wallace told CNN affiliate WTVF.

Billy Mays, OxyClean Pitchman, Found Dead.

(CNN) -- Infomercial pitchman Billy Mays died at his Tampa, Florida, home Sunday morning, authorities told CNN.

The 50-year-old known for his shouting OxiClean ads was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m. The Hillsborough County medical examiner will perform an autopsy, Tampa police Lt. Brian Dugan said.

Mays was on the US Airways flight from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Tampa on Saturday that had a hard landing at Tampa International Airport when the plane's front tire blew out. There were no reported injuries on Flight 1241, US Airways told CNN.

According to a local Tampa TV station, Mays said: "All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

Airline spokesman Jim Olson told CNN Sunday there were no reported passenger injuries from flight 1241. The airline vowed to "cooperate fully" with authorities in the investigation.

"We were very sad to learn of Billy Mays' passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family," Olson said. Tampa officials say the Medical Examiner's Office expects to complete an autopsy by Monday afternoon. In a statement, Deborah Mays said that although "Billy lived a public life," the family does not plan immediate public statements about his death.

Mays was a spokesman for Orange Glo and detergent OxiClean and appeared in commercials for other products.

He is featured on the reality TV show ''Pitchmen'' on the Discovery Channel, which follows pitch people in their jobs.

"It is with incredible sadness that we have to report that Billy Mays died in his sleep last night," said a statement from the Discovery Channel. "Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal and compassionate friend. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this time of incredible loss."

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Neda Agha Sultan Video Shows Her Death

It was a horrible tragedy that occurred in the midst of the Iranian protests in Tehran. A young woman who was part of the peaceful struggle was taken from this world by a sniper bullet through her heart. Her name was Neda Agha Soltani, an engaged young woman with a bright future ahead of her. Neda has now become a rallying cry for those who wish for change in the turmoil enveloping Iran.  

After witnessing  the death of Neda, I am sick to my stomach to think a country would not stop in its tracks to make sure this never happens again.  The individual who pulled the trigger on this beautiful human will have to face God and explain his/her sins.  

Coroner Report Gives No Information On Jackson's Death

During a press conference from the LA coroners office, no information was given on the possible cause of death for Jackson.  They claimed that samples would be sent off for toxicology reports.  This will add six to eight weeks to let the media speculate on his death.  We at Rumor On The Street will be having an office pool on what the media will report as the possible cause of death.  Unfortunately, by the time the toxicology reports are finally released, he will have been examined from every direction and be falsely accused of everything imaginable.  Sorry Mike!