Bisbee field of human bones not illegal, say police

Steve Nuñez - It's a chilling discovery: piles of human bones dumped into open pits at a Bisbee cemetery. At first glance, a casual observer might think: this can't possibly be legal.

Not so, says the Bisbee Police Department.

The place: Bisbee's Memory Gardens Cemetery. Last week a couple looking for a relative's grave discovered that the headstone had been moved to an area behind some brush.

Bisbee police officer Chris Long told KGUN9 News, that's when the couple made a startling, stomach-churning discovery: an area pocketed with piles of dry human bones mixed with ashes. Most of the bones had been dumped in two open pits.

Officer Long says the cemetery's owner, Paul Parker, came forward to take responsibility for dumping the partially cremated body parts.

Parker told police it's something he's been doing for years now - to save money.

But according to Long, it's not illegal, and the owner cannot face criminal charges. "We looked into the avenues of any crime here," Long said. "We don't find anything criminally wrong with what he's doing."

Long admitted that he found that news surprising. "It's one of those things you hear about but don't think you're ever going to see."

It's hard not to find the sight disturbing. Long told Nuñez that it certainly has that effect on him. "It's one of those things you catch yourself staring at. You can't really explain it but you keep staring at it in disbelief."

via Bisbee field of human bones not illegal, say police - KGUN9 On Your Side, Tucson News, Weather & Sports.