Police are investigating after a grave was desecrated and human remains were removed from the historic City of Miami Cemetery.
Miami Police said officers attended the scene at 2 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of possible unauthorized entry to the cemetery on 2nd Avenue in northwest Miami.
Cemetery volunteer Ronnie Hurwitz said he discovered an open grave when he showed up at the cemetery.
Police confirmed the remains were removed from the site, which is a second-degree felony, Telemundo 51’s sister channel NBC 6 reported.
Officials said they were looking at surveillance footage, but said the area where it happened was isolated. They added that they were looking to increase the police presence in the area as a security measure.
Miami Commissioner Sabina Covo confirmed that the cemetery had been desecrated.
“Miami’s oldest cemetery was vandalized and desecrated yesterday. Historic ground that needs to be better guarded and needs to be kept safe and preserved,” Covo tweeted Monday. “Thank you @MiamiDadePD and @miamiparks for the work you are doing to identify the vandals and bring them to justice.
The cemetery opened in 1897 and is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Several notable early Miami residents are buried there, including “Miami Mother” Julia Tuttle and Miami’s third mayor, John Sewell. .