Southfield police are working to track down the person leaving dead animals – some with their heads cut off – at the entrance of Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery over the past several months.
The incidents began in March when someone left a headless goat at the front gates of the 350-acre cemetery located at 10 Mile and Beech Daly roads.
“This is, without question, unacceptable in Southfield,” Deputy Police Chief Aaron Huguley said. “We’re going to identify this individual, and we’re going to hold them accountable with the appropriate charges.”
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A chicken was also found on the cemetery property, although the remains had been disturbed, and investigators could not determine exactly what happened.
“When it was reported to us, it was about two weeks later,” Huguley said, adding that a wild animal may have moved the remains to where it was found deeper in the cemetery. “It looked like the head may have been cut off, but we can’t say with certainty.”
Most recently, two pigeons, also with heads cut off, were found on May 16 in a bag near the cemetery’s main entrance.
Huguley said investigators do not yet know the motive behind the incidents.
“We don’t know if this is a cultural thing, or something that has to do with deceased people,” he said. “We don’t know the rhyme and reason behind it.”
Police are partnering with cemetery staff and reviewing surveillance footage as part of the investigation.
Huguley said multiple potential criminal charges could be considered by the prosecutor’s office once a suspect is identified, including animal cruelty and illegal dumping of animals.
“There’s a number of things that we’re evaluating,” he said.
Nick Vaghy, location manager for Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, declined to comment in detail because the investigation is ongoing.
Vaghy said Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services, which operates Catholic cemeteries for the Archdiocese of Detroit, is aware of the situation and cooperating with police.
“We’re just letting people know nothing within the cemetery has been disturbed or damaged as part of this situation,” Vaghy said, noting the organization “remains committed to maintaining the safe, respectful, and peaceful environment.”
The Southfield Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact its investigations division at 248-796-5540 or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
Contact reporter Laura Colvin: lcolvin@hometownlife.com
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Police investigate headless animals found at Southfield cemetery
Reporting by Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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