State (Florida) approves exhumation of graves at Dozier School for Boys

[Eugene]

Source: WTSP

State approves exhumation of graves at Dozier School for Boys

12:25 PM, Aug 6, 2013

10 News Staff

Tallahassee, Florida -- University of South Florida researchers got approval from the state to begin exhuming grave sites at the now closed Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and his Cabinet unanimously voted to issue permits to the researchers on Tuesday morning.

"This decision puts us a step closer to finishing the investigation," U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said in a statement. "Nothing can bring these boys back, but I'm hopeful that their families will now get the closure they deserve."

The graves for at least 22 boys who died while at Dozier have never been located.

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Read more: http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/328805/19/State-approves-exhumation-of-graves-at-Dozier-School

[Judi Lynn]

1. Human remains found in shallow hole at Dozier school

Human remains found in shallow hole at Dozier school
Ben Montgomery, Times Staff Writer 
Saturday, August 31, 2013 10:24pm

MARIANNA — At sunup Saturday, in a clearing surrounded by kudzu-heavy woods on the campus of a brutal reform school, a team of researchers carefully began digging holes around a little clandestine cemetery, hoping the red dirt would give up its secrets.

They were searching for the remains of young wards of the Dozier School for Boys, who died in state custody and were buried without the dignity of a permanent marker.

A few hours after noon, the first human remains were found at the bottom of a shallow hole about 30 yards north of rows of crooked pipe crosses, which were planted in the 1990s based on folklore. The researchers, from the University of South Florida, gathered around the hole to examine a casket handle found near the remains.

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Some Jackson County residents, led mostly by amateur historian Dale Cox, have been upset by the project and have tried to stop it. Cox only recently quit his campaign to halt the exhumations. Local politicians say they're worried the media coverage of the exhumations will reflect poorly on rural Jackson County and on Marianna, "the City of Southern Charm," population 9,000.

More:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/human-remains-found-in-shallow-hole-at-dozier-school/2139448