A Detroit Cigar Baron's Mausoleum Was Stripped by Thieves, but No One Ever Told the Family
Susan Burns was shocked to discover that her grandfather's mausoleum at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit had been ransacked. The ornate copper doors and a stained-glass window were stolen, leaving the family landmark damaged and exposed.
Burns, who lives in Florida, is incensed that no one from the cemetery notified her about the theft. "It's disgusting," she says. "They did nothing." Burns had been searching for information about the incident after coming across an article by a Metro Times journalist, which highlighted the broader issue of graveyard crimes at Woodmere Cemetery.
Thirteen years after the theft, Burns visited the cemetery and found that the damage had not been fully sealed. The front of her grandfather's mausoleum was boarded up, while the rear opening where the stained-glass window had been removed was still open to the elements.
Burns says she is now looking for a lawyer to file a lawsuit against the cemetery owners, arguing that they should have tried to locate surviving relatives and alerted them to the theft and damage. "I don't even know if my grandfather's body is still inside," she says.
The incident has highlighted the need for better communication between cemeteries and families of deceased loved ones. Burns' frustration is compounded by the fact that her grandfather's mausoleum holds significant cultural and architectural value, making it irreplaceable.
A spokesperson for Everstory Partners, the company that owns Woodmere Cemetery, says that they are working to improve conditions at the cemetery but declined to discuss specific incidents or family issues publicly. The company has faced criticism in the past for conditions at some of its other cemeteries.
The theft and damage to Burns' grandfather's mausoleum have left her feeling devastated and disrespected. "They need to fix that mausoleum," she says. "It's priceless."
Susan Burns was shocked to discover that her grandfather's mausoleum at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit had been ransacked. The ornate copper doors and a stained-glass window were stolen, leaving the family landmark damaged and exposed.
Burns, who lives in Florida, is incensed that no one from the cemetery notified her about the theft. "It's disgusting," she says. "They did nothing." Burns had been searching for information about the incident after coming across an article by a Metro Times journalist, which highlighted the broader issue of graveyard crimes at Woodmere Cemetery.
Thirteen years after the theft, Burns visited the cemetery and found that the damage had not been fully sealed. The front of her grandfather's mausoleum was boarded up, while the rear opening where the stained-glass window had been removed was still open to the elements.
Burns says she is now looking for a lawyer to file a lawsuit against the cemetery owners, arguing that they should have tried to locate surviving relatives and alerted them to the theft and damage. "I don't even know if my grandfather's body is still inside," she says.
The incident has highlighted the need for better communication between cemeteries and families of deceased loved ones. Burns' frustration is compounded by the fact that her grandfather's mausoleum holds significant cultural and architectural value, making it irreplaceable.
A spokesperson for Everstory Partners, the company that owns Woodmere Cemetery, says that they are working to improve conditions at the cemetery but declined to discuss specific incidents or family issues publicly. The company has faced criticism in the past for conditions at some of its other cemeteries.
The theft and damage to Burns' grandfather's mausoleum have left her feeling devastated and disrespected. "They need to fix that mausoleum," she says. "It's priceless."
, like notify the family or something? Not cool when someone steals from grandma/grandpa's final rest 
, and I'm still trying to process everything. The beaches were literally breathtaking – I swear, it's like the ocean was smiling at me every time I stepped out of my Airbnb 
. Anyway, it made me think about how some places are just so peaceful and serene that they make you appreciate the chaos in your own life 
. Like, have you ever had one of those days where everything seems to be going wrong, but then you take a deep breath and remember that life is all about balance... or something like that 
?
My heart goes out to Susan Burns, this is just devastating news! Thieves stripping a family's mausoleum of its ornaments & history? No one tells the family?! 
That's unacceptable! The damage to her grandfather's landmark is not only an emotional blow but also an irreplaceable loss of cultural significance. I'm all for holding cemeteries accountable for maintaining these sacred spaces, it's time for better communication & transparency between cemeteries & families. 
The fact that no one told Susan Burns about what happened is just, like, whoa... how could they be so thoughtless?! 
I'm totally on team Susan here... she needs to get that mausoleum fixed ASAP and those cemetery owners should be held accountable! 
I mean, I know cemeteries can get neglected but this is just crazy. The fact that no one even bothered to contact the Burns family about what happened is just disgusting 
. It's not just about the money or the copper doors and stained-glass window (although those are important too 
). It's about respect for the dead and their families. Like, can't they see that this is a huge part of history and culture? 
.
The fact that it was ransacked and damaged is already heartbreaking, but not being told about it by the cemetery staff? That's just a whole new level of disrespect. I'm totally with Susan on this - they need to own up to their mistake and fix it ASAP 
.
It's like they forgot it happened or something? I mean, I get that cemeteries have their hands full with maintenance and stuff, but still... a mausoleum gets broken into and you don't even bother letting the people who actually care about it know? 
It's like they're hoping no one shows up. 
. The fact that it's been 13 years and they're still not taking responsibility is just ridiculous 
. The Burns family deserves so much better than this 
.
. What if some crazy person shows up and, I don't know, desecrates the body inside or something? This whole thing reeks of neglect and incompetence