In a heartbreaking turn of events at Good Shepherd Memorial Park in Plains Township, the remains of two individuals, including those of Mary Cappellini Piga, were reportedly stolen from a mausoleum. The incident has left family members and the community in shock.
Peter Biscontini, who serves on the township’s Board of Commissioners, is particularly affected, as Piga was his great-grandmother. He recalls the fond stories of family gatherings she hosted, a stark contrast to the recent disturbing events.
The theft was part of a burglary that is currently under police investigation. Biscontini expressed his personal and professional distress, stating, “Not only am I taking it seriously from a job or … [a] commissioner’s standpoint, but also for personal reasons … it’s just a tragedy and very sad to think about.”
Police have discovered partial remains of Piga’s body but have not released further details. The identity of the second individual remains undisclosed, although another family member mentioned in a Newsweek article that an unrelated male’s remains were found.
The Good Shepherd Memorial Park has been suffering from neglect for over 20 years. Despite volunteer efforts to maintain the grounds, the mausoleum has fallen into a severe state of disrepair. Peter Biscontini revealed that the township had previously condemned the building in 2015, but legal constraints prevent local authorities from taking further action.
Cemetery’s Ownership Complicates Solutions
The cemetery’s private ownership by Viktoria Evstafieva and Lawrence Lee, who are reportedly residing in Florida, complicates the situation. WVIA News attempted to reach them but received no response. Efforts by the township to communicate with the owners have been unsuccessful, prompting legal actions to relocate the remains, a process that could take years.
Community Efforts and Legal Recourse
Funeral directors, such as Chris Yanaitis, are now involved, working to secure a court order from the state Attorney General’s office. This would allow for the relocation of the remaining 38 individuals to safer ground. Yanaitis emphasized the urgency, mentioning the absence of family for many of the deceased and the financial burden on the funeral association.
Yanaitis remarked, “We are running out of time because a lot of the decedents, they don’t have any families anymore, because they themselves are gone. And this is why it’s falling into the responsibility of those that are left — us, the caretakers, the funeral directors. I mean, we are trying our best.”
The community is urged to contact local funeral directors for assistance in moving their loved ones from the compromised mausoleum.
For Peter Biscontini, the crime is a profound violation of his great-grandmother’s legacy. Piga, who immigrated from Italy and settled in Plains Township, is remembered for her strong family values and contributions to her community. Biscontini expressed his disbelief, saying, “I don’t think that [this is] a high school kid trying to do mischief. I could see [a kid] spray-painting or toilet papering a mausoleum. But I think for somebody to go to that extent, to … the premeditated work that goes into opening up a crypt and removing corpses, I think you have to have a couple screws loose, both psychologically and morally.”
