I-Team: First Lady's father buried at Burr Oak

[Akoto]

Source: ABC-7 News

July 14, 2009 (ALSIP, Ill.) (WLS) -- The father of Michelle Obama is buried at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill., according to the first lady's communication director.

Fraser Robinson the Third passed away in 1991. Robinson worked for the City of Chicago's Water Department. He developed Multiple Sclerosis as a young man, according to Camille Johnston, communication director for Michelle Obama.

Burr Oak Cemetery is the center of an alleged scandal where workers dug up bodies and either tossed them away or resold plots that were already in use.

Officials have not said whether Robinson's grave was disturbed.

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6914318

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Here's hoping his remains were spared, at least. So disgusting, how far they went in pursuit of profit.

[Kittycat]

1. But sadly - who's grave might he be resting in?

Such a tragedy for all the families involved.

[SkyDaddy7]

2. Considering how long ago he was buried there...

I think the question should be whether he is still "resting" there or was he dug up as well?

This is as bad as the cremation mess in Georgia several years ago!

[dflprincess]

3. When the story first broke about the cemetary

I got the impression that a lot of the graves involved did not have permanent markers (I could be wrong). I hope Mr. Robinson had a marker, it may have protected him.

[PSzymeczek]

5. I saw a picture

of the shed where Emmitt Till's original casket was "stored", and there were a bunch of discarded head stones next to it. So I think those criminals may have unmarked some graves while they were at it.

[dflprincess]

6. How in the hell did they think they wouldn't get caught?

Unless the ones with headstones were so old they guessed no one was visiting those graves anymore. (Could be a wrong guess, my great-grandparents are buried just a few plots away from my dad so I'd notice even if they have been dead nearly 100 years)

Stealing from the dead and causing families more grief, you really can't go any lower.

[MadMaddie]

8. Actually there were many graves that had markers and when

this got out the families that had purchased markers were shocked to find that the markers that were there were faced in the opposite direction.

[Vidar]

4. Sorry to hear this.

[Omaha Steve]

7. There is a civil rights Icon that was buried there too

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6063062

His casket is in the photo. More on this at the link.

[dflprincess]

9. That's his original casket

After he was (legally) exhumed several years ago during a reinvestigation of his death he was buried in a new casket. All signs are that his grave was not disturbed in this scandal.

However, the original casket was suppose to be part of a memorial exhibit for him and the cemetery workers have been accused of taking money that was donated for that memorial.

[orleans]

10. later this afternoon, jim johnson (news guy on wls)

said the story was wrong. the white house was now saying her father is buried in a cemetery NEAR burr oak.

that, according to jim according to the white house.