The grizzly work of the investigation is getting under way at Burr Oak Cemetery Monday morning, with an FBI forensic team starting with the most northern section of the grounds.
Authorities begin to dig graves at the Burr Oak Cemetery, hoping to find evidence that the graves were previously disturbed.
"The last memory they have has now been destroyed," said an attorney representing the families.
That's where most of the grave disruption was initially observed, but the entire cemetery is closed and has been declared a crime scene. Much of the cemetery has a grid laid out with ropes and flags. There is a second active area that will be investigated next.
Sheriff's officials could not say if there would be any digging, even though heavy excavation equipment arrived on site this morning. So far, it's only a "visual search" to identify graves that have been potentially disturbed.
Officials believe as many as 300 graves were dug up at Burr Oak and the bodies disposed of in a scheme by graveyard employees to resell the plots and pocket the money.
Investigators are trying to rule out some areas as being part of crime scene, said Cook County Sheriff's Office spokesman Bill Cunningham.
County Board President Todd Stroger is working on declaring this a disaster area to get federal funds to help cover the expenses of the investigation, Cunningham said.
All new inquiries from the public about those buried in Burr Oak must be made by phone at 1-800-942-1950 or e-mail burroakcemeteryinvestigation@gmail.com. The nearby Eisenhower School is open, but only to take in forms from people who made inquiries yesterday.
The Sherrif's Office hopes to have extra phone lines available by midday to make it easier for people to call.