More victims come forward in case of moved headstones at Bridgeport cemetery

More victims are coming forward after an ex-cemetery manager was accused for years of burying coffins on top of each other and moving headstones.

News 12 Staff

Mar 4, 2022, 6:37 PM

Updated 1,027 days ago

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More victims are coming forward after an ex-cemetery manager was accused for years of burying coffins on top of each other and moving headstones.
Latanya Bryant says her grandmother and her mother Nadine can't rest peacefully in Park Cemetery.
"I was 20 years old when my mom passed away. I had to work three jobs to pay for her headstone, her funeral, everything," said Bryant.
Former cemetery manager Dale Laprade was accused of burying coffins on top of one another and moving headstones to make room for new graves.
Bryant says her mother's stone has been moved several feet, and she won't be at peace until she can be moved to a new resting place.
Former manager LaPrade also accused of embezzling over $600,000 in cemetery funds. LaPrade died last June while awaiting trial.
"We are asking that my mom and my grandma be removed from this graveyard and moved to another graveyard because they are not in the right place, they are not resting, they are on top of another body," said Bryant.
The cemetery's court-appointed board of directors is still working to confirm the locations of some stones and bodies.
Anthony Monelli says he's working to help Bryant, but moving her loved ones would mean finding some funding from the state. The cemetery's former manager also allegedly embezzled over $600,000.
"The many years of Dale LaPrade have depleted the cemetery's available funds. We're working on building it up to keep up with the maintenance. It's been a very difficult task," said Monelli.
Bryant says she shouldn't have to pay to bury her mother a second time.
"I'm not sure who's going to have to pay - that's what they're working on, but that's not something the family should be required to pay for. We did not cause this problem, and it's been allowed to go on for years and years and years. It's not OK. It's really not OK," Bryant said.