A team of University of South Florida anthropologists will working to detail the number and locations of graves at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna. Photo provided by USF.
Attorney General Pam Bondi's office filed a petition to get a court order for exhumation of human remains on the site of the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna. The site of "Boot Hill Cemetery" and surrounding areas is believed to have many unmarked graves of students at Dozier who died between 1900 and 1952.
The petition was signed on behalf of Dr. Michael Hunter, the appointed Medical Examiner for the Fourteenth District of Florida. Bondi said she would do anything in her power to support the investigation of the unexplained deaths and "bring closure to the families who lost loved ones."
"The deaths that occurred at Dozier School for Boys in Marianna are cloaked in mystery, and the surviving family members deserve a thorough examination of the site," Bondi said.
Senator Bill Nelson publicly supported the investigation into the deaths of Dozier students.
"This is a critical step forward to bring closure to the families," he said about the petition. "I commend Attorney General Pam Bondi."
Dozier School for Boys known as a reform school or Florida School for Boys closed in 2011 after more than a hundred years of operation. Former Dozier students told us severe beatings were the form of punishment there.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement and University of South Florida researchers found dozens of graves with students' remains on the school property. USF researchers said there would be more.
If exhumation is ordered, the medical examiner's office would be able to identify those remains and conduct complete autopsies to determine cause of death for the students buried on the site.
Bondi in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection also supported a 150-day extension of an injunction barring the sale of the state-owned land the cemetery is located on.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:37 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:37:03 GMT
St. Petersburg Police Officers have arrested three people for a home invasion and beating that left a 63-year-old woman in critical condition on Wednesday morning.
St. Petersburg Police Officers have arrested three people for a home invasion and beating that left a 63-year-old woman in critical condition on Wednesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:53:22 GMT
The state admits it dropped the ball, but 51 year old Wes Diebold lost his license over a 2 dollar mistake.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Looking for a job is tough enough these days but how much tougher does having a suspended driver's license make things? 51 year old Wes Diebold doesn't know for sure if his suspended license was a roadblock.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:30:01 GMT
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance. But under new legislation awaiting the signature of Governor Rick Scott it could
The Obridge Academy is a virtual school with a virtual Florida headquarters and a virtual track record of performance.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:56 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:56:22 GMT
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
The weather is getting warm in the bay area and pest control experts say it's bringing out dry wood termites. "The phones are ringing off the hook now because the termites are swarming," said exterminator
Friday, May 17 2013 7:36 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:36:31 GMT
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:00 AM EDT2013-05-17 09:00:46 GMT
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:29 PM EDT2013-05-23 16:29:23 GMT
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Kmart has launched the latest in what appears to be an edgy string of commercials. In April, one of its commercial went viral for a play on words. Explaining the ease of shipping a product to a customer
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:12 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:12:48 GMT
The man who famously put down his Big Mac to help rescue three women held captive for a decade in an Ohio house will never have to pay for another burger in his hometown.
The man who famously put down his Big Mac to help rescue three women held captive for a decade in an Ohio house will never have to pay for another burger in his hometown.
Thursday, May 23 2013 5:31 PM EDT2013-05-23 21:31:38 GMT
Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season. Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes. The
Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season. Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes. The
Leigh Spann joined WFLA in September, 2007. You can catch her forecasts every weekday morning starting at 4:30am. Since so many people ask, she says she wakes up at 2am and goes to bed at 7pm!
Leigh Spann joined WFLA in September, 2007. You can catch her forecasts every weekday morning starting at 4:30am. Since so many people ask, she says she wakes up at 2am and goes to bed at 7pm!
A team of University of South Florida anthropologists will working to detail the number and locations of graves at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna. Photo provided by USF.
