‘Ritualistic activity’: Graves dug up, remains removed at Central Florida cemetery
Graves at a Mount Dora cemetery were dug up and some remains were removed as part of what deputies believe was a “ritualistic activity.”
Lake County deputies said they were called to the Edgewood Cemetery on Britt Road in Mount Dora on Sunday afternoon after Emily Booth reported vandalism to some of the graves.
Booth said she saw a headstone that had been disturbed, but when she went to get a better look she found the body of a man had been removed from his grave.
"His body was just laying there. No vault, no top of the coffin, no anything," Booth said.
Deputies said that when they arrived they learned that someone had gained access to four graves and attempted to access a fifth grave.
Further investigation revealed that some remains were missing from the four graves that had been accessed.
Booth said the man who she had spotted pulled from his grave had his head removed and it broke her heart.
"I do think it’s extremely odd that you took a man’s head. What else do you do with that?" Booth asked.
Investigators said they found evidence that suggests the incident is “very likely tied to some form of ritualistic activity.” They believe multiple people were involved.
Crews have been working Monday to repair the damage.
Deputies are asking anyone who may have noticed any suspicious vehicles or suspicious activity at the cemetery Saturday night to call the sheriff's office at 352-343-2101.