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West Virginia Gravedigger Accused of Desecrating Baby’s Corpse at Cemetery
A **West Virginia gravedigger** has been formally charged following accusations of **desecrating** the remains of a baby boy at a local **cemetery**. The incident allegedly occurred at Baylous Cemetery, prompting a police investigation and community outrage over the disrespectful act involving the infant’s body.
Grave Desecration Incident at Baylous Cemetery
Matthew Fortner, 49, while employed as a gravedigger, was reportedly excavating a plot at Baylous Cemetery in preparation for an upcoming funeral when he purportedly struck an infant’s coffin, according to reports from 13 News.
Subsequently, Fortner, who has a prior conviction for murder, is accused of discarding the casket down an embankment near the burial site. This action resulted in the baby’s remains being discovered exposed in the cemetery grounds. A couple visiting the cemetery to decorate headstones for Easter stumbled upon the distressing scene.
Disturbing Discovery by Cemetery Visitors
On March 27th, a couple noticed baby clothing scattered within the cemetery. Their concern led to the grim discovery of the child’s remains. Reports from WSAZ indicate the infant was approximately five days old at the time of burial.
Initially, investigators inspected gravesites for signs of disturbance but found none related to the exposed remains. Further investigation revealed Fortner had been digging a different grave when he unearthed the baby’s casket.
A 911 call captured the shock and distress of the person reporting the incident: ‘It’s like someone dug a grave up and there’s a baby. The casket’s thrown over a hill,’ as reported by WSAZ.
Arrest and Formal Charges Against Gravedigger
Authorities apprehended Fortner on Wednesday. He faces charges for displacement of a deceased body and intentionally concealing information regarding the disturbance of human skeletal remains.
Court records indicate Fortner entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. He was released on bond the day following his arrest.
Matthew Fortner, 49, allegedly struck the baby’s casket while digging a grave at Baylous Cemetery. He is accused of then dumping the casket over a hillside, leading to the baby’s corpse being found in the cemetery.
Fortner was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with offenses including displacement of a dead body and withholding information about the disturbance of human remains. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.
The remains were discovered by a couple while they were placing decorations at graves for Easter.
Potential Prison Sentence and Community Outrage
If convicted, Fortner could face a prison sentence of up to five years.
Cabell County Sheriff Doug Adams expressed strong condemnation, telling WSAZ, ‘It takes a sick individual, in my opinion, to desecrate a grave and mess with a corpse, period.’
Authorities confirmed the baby boy’s death occurred in 1982; however, no further details about the child have been disclosed.
Cemetery Board Expresses Condemnation
The Baylous Cemetery Board of Directors issued a statement expressing their sorrow upon learning of the accusations against a contractor’s employee.
‘We continue to cooperate with the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office and thank them for diligently working to solve this case. We hope that justice will be served,’ the board stated to 13 News.
Fortner’s Prior Criminal History
Reports from WSAZ highlight Fortner’s past criminal convictions, including a murder conviction.
He received a life sentence with the possibility of parole for a 1997 murder, following a guilty plea in 1999.
Fortner was paroled and released from prison in 2007.
Later, the murder charge was reportedly set aside, and he was subsequently sentenced to first-degree robbery with time already served, according to reports.