Jersey Settlers cemetery mystery solved

Published 12:01 am Saturday, March 28, 2015

NATCHEZ — The case of missing items from a local cemetery can be chalked up to poor communication rather than criminal mischief, law enforcement officials said.

In the last week a number of people with family members buried in the Jersey Settlers cemetery in Kingston have come forward to complain about mementos and other items that had been removed from graves in the cemetery. Reports about the removals were filed with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office

ACSO spokesperson Courtney Taylor said Friday the sheriff’s office has determined the cemetery management — which recently changed hands — had been gathering things up after making new rules about what could be left at gravesites.

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The person responsible has been calling the people who complained and is talking to them, and plans to send out letters to those who own plots in the cemetery to clarify policies, Taylor said.

No crime has been committed and no arrest will be made, Taylor said. Robin Latham — one of the people whose family graves were cleared — said she didn’t mind the new rules but hoped nothing similar happened in the future.

Latham likewise said she hopes items will be recovered.

“Some of the things that were left out there were things kids made for their pawpaw,” she said.