Animals sacrificed at grave sites

[azathoth777]

TN-A woman visiting her family burial plot at Roselawn Cemetery found evidence of an animal sacrifice Sunday.

The Nashville woman told police the head of the animal had been cut off and several chicken eggs, bushes and candles were placed around the grave marker. She was visiting the grave site of a family member in the cemetery at 5850 N.W. Broad St.

Police believe the incident occurred either Friday or Saturday, and investigation revealed another apparent animal sacrifice took place nearby.

Officer Scott Davis reported that the animal "was some type of large fowl in both instances. It could possibly have been a pheasant, or maybe some type of duck," according to Lt. Alvin Baird, department spokesman.

Carla Perkins, administrator at Roselawn Cemetery, said incidents such as this are unprecedented in the cemetery's history.

"We've never had this happen, and I've been here almost 10 years," Perkins said.

Better security is the only way to keep such incidents from happening again, she said.

"We need the police to patrol more," Perkins said. "That's all we can say. The gates are never shut here."

Instances of animal sacrifices at local cemeteries are unusual, said Baird, who could not recall any recent instances.

Police at this point do not believe the family of the woman who found the sacrifice was specifically targeted, because a similar sacrifice was found at an unrelated grave site, Baird said

"If we can locate the culprits, they could be possibly looking at cruelty to animal and trespassing charges," he said.