It was a shocking crime: four cemetery workers near Chicago exhumed over 100 bodies to resell burial plots. This scandal at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, has left a lasting mark, especially since some of the graves belonged to notable figures, such as Emmett Till and blues singer Dinah Washington.
Years later, a small piece of moss became vital evidence in this case. In 2009, Dr. Matt von Konrat, a botanist at the Field Museum in Chicago, received a call from the FBI. They brought in moss found alongside the buried remains, hoping it would reveal critical clues.
Local police had discovered human remains buried under a few inches of soil. The cemetery is historically significant, being the final resting place of many important African Americans. Along with the remains, forensic experts found a tiny clump of moss, about the size of a fingertip.
Dr. Von Konrat was tasked with determining the type and age of the moss. Scientists identified it as common pocket moss, known scientifically as Fissidens taxifolius. They discovered that this moss did not grow in the area where the bodies were found but thrived in a shaded spot where police suspected the bodies had originally been buried. The analysis suggested that the moss had been moved with the corpses.
But how did they know when the crime occurred? Moss has a unique biology. Unlike humans, moss can show signs of life even when it appears dead. Its metabolism slows significantly over time, making it possible to date how long it had been buried.
To assess the moss’s age, scientists conducted tests involving light absorption, which showed how much energy the moss was still consuming. The findings indicated that this clump had been buried for less than a year, countering the defense claim that the crime had occurred long before the accused had been employed.
The plant evidence was crucial during the trial. Doug Seccombe, a former FBI agent involved in the investigation, noted that the moss findings were “key” to securing convictions. Dr. Von Konrat was unexpectedly pulled into the world of forensic science, a field he never thought he’d engage with. He emphasized the importance of natural history collections, stating that they can provide valuable insights in unexpected circumstances.
This case highlights a fascinating intersection of botany and forensic science. It underscores how diverse fields can contribute to solving crimes, demonstrating the often-overlooked significance of even the smallest details in investigations.
If you’re interested in more surprising intersections of science and crime, you can read about how unrelated biological materials are aiding modern forensic techniques here.
