Osage Beach, Mo., cemetery relocation draws concerns of mishandling historic remains

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (KY3) -A cemetery more than a century old, believed to hold the memories of some of the foundational people in Osage Beach, is being relocated.

While some say the move could better preserve the Zebra Cemetery’s site, others are raising concerns about whether loved ones’ remains are being handled properly.

Osage Beach native Todd Franklin said he is dedicated to preserving the community’s history, but believes the relocation is being handled disrespectfully, especially given the significance of some of the people buried there, including a Spanish Civil War veteran.

“It was just very disgraceful, and I think disrespectful,” Franklin said. “I would think you really need an archaeologist to be digging properly by hand and properly removing, you know, the remains respectfully instead of just, just smash and grab.”

Franklin said he watched crews working Wednesday and described what he believes was a lack of care during the removal process.

“And it looked very improper as they were sifting by hand through the shovel of the backhoe looking for human remains, which I saw them find,” Franklin said. “And the pieces of the coffin that was broken up by the backhoe.”

According to court documents, property owners filed a petition in late January to relocate the remains, arguing that no one was responsible for maintaining the cemetery. The petition was approved in early May.

Daphne Jeffries, President of the Camden County Historical Society, describes how the cemetery holds members of families that are alive to this day. She says with the current construction and modernization of Osage Beach, relocating the historical site is the best choice for the cemetery.

“It’s better to have it intact rather than destroyed,” Jeffries said.

KY3 reached out to the property owners’ attorney, who declined to comment. Instead, KY3 was provided a statement from the judge following approval of the petition:

“Because those folks buried in that area…deserve to be in a place where people can see and can learn about the Zebra Cemetery other than in the middle of some commercial property grown up with trees that nobody — most people drive by and don’t even have any idea it’s there. And that’s sad.”

As the relocation continues, Franklin said he hopes there is more oversight moving forward.

“I just think there needs to be eyes on this and see if it gets properly done,” Franklin said.

The remains are expected to be relocated and memorialized at Hedges Funeral Home.

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