FBI to Begin Exhumation of Emmett Till

[Rose Siding]

ALSIP, Ill. -- Federal investigators began exhuming Emmett Till's body at a suburban Chicago cemetery Wednesday, hoping to find clues into the 1955 Mississippi slaying that became a key event in the civil rights movement.
...
"One purpose of this is to positively identify the remains and dispel any rumors as to whether it is truly Emmett Till or not," Bochte said. A second reason, he said, is to "see if any further evidence can be looked at to help Mississippi officials bring additional charges if warranted."

Investigators with shovels and a backhoe began digging under a white tent erected over Till's grave. The family was allowed onto the cemetery grounds, but onlookers were corralled outside the entrance.

The U.S. Justice Department announced last year it would reopen an investigation into Till's 1955 slaying, saying it was triggered by several pieces of information including a documentary by New York filmmaker Keith Beauchamp.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060100511.html

[livetohike]

1. Further evidence?

From a corpse that has been buried since 1955? Did someone throw something in the coffin with him? :shrug:

[mimitabby]

2. DNA

[Gyre]

3. This is disgusting.

Your tax dollars being squandered to desecrate the dead. And for what? The FBI has no shame.

[benburch]

7. If they can find the truth...

then it is no desecration. I believe their motives are good here.

[Javaman]

8. Read about Emmit Till and you will understand.

[RT Atlanta]

4. I hope something positive comes from this...

I understand there are differing accounts on whether the two murderers acted alone or with others. Perhaps new forensic crime scene investigation techniques will help.

[Xithras]

11. I believe they want to charge the wife of one of the murderers

There's an accusation that she was present after the kidnapping and fingered him before he was murdered. She's still alive (though very elderly) and could potentially be charged as an accomplice.

There's an eyewitness who also claims that there was one or two other men in the truck, but he claimed that the other men were black so I don't know how that's useful to the case if they're looking to charge someone with a racially motivated murder (which it may not have entirely been).

[Catherine Vincent]

5. OMG.

That boy's body was disfigured beyond recognition when they buried him. Lord knows what it will look like now.:-(

[formerrepuke]

6. I don't see the point- his own mother positively identified him at

the time, and the known murderers (even though acquitted) are now dead.

[Wilms]

9. kick n/t

[noiretextatique]

10. if he was 14 in 1955, he'd be 64 now

which means most of the people involved in his death are probably dead. i haven't seen the documentary so i don't know what new theories it uncovered, but i can't see the point in reopening this case. perhaps the documentary can shed some light on this.

[wicket]

12. the documentary is great

It said that there are co-conspirators still alive, including the woman he whistled at.

[noiretextatique]

13. thanks, i will check it out eom