Moss Evidence Cracks Burr Oak Cemetery Grave Desecration Case

Tiny plant clue helped investigators determine timeline of horrific crimes at historic African American cemetery.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:43pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a small clump of lush, textured moss against a stark black background, conceptually representing how this unassuming plant evidence played a key role in solving a shocking cemetery crime.Moss evidence proved critical in determining the timeline of grave desecration crimes at Burr Oak Cemetery.Chicago Today

A new scientific paper details how moss evidence helped solve the Burr Oak Cemetery grave desecration case uncovered in 2009. Investigators used plant analysis to determine when graves were disturbed, helping secure convictions of cemetery workers Keith Nicks and Terrence Nicks for the grave robbing and reselling scheme. The case is now being highlighted as a breakthrough in forensic science involving plant evidence.

Why it matters

The Burr Oak Cemetery case exposed a shocking criminal operation where graves were being dug up, remains removed, and plots resold for profit. Identifying the timeline of when the crimes occurred was critical to securing convictions, and the moss evidence provided a unique forensic tool to do so. This case demonstrates the potential for plant-based forensics to aid law enforcement in solving complex crimes involving disturbed burial sites.

The details

Investigators found more than 1,500 bone fragments from at least 200 graves that had been dug up and dumped into a mass unmarked grave, so that the plots could be resold. While the suspects claimed the grave robbing happened before they started working at the cemetery, a tiny piece of moss found at the crime scene provided a key clue. Botanist Matt Von Konrat from the Field Museum identified the moss as Fissidens taxifolius, or common pocket moss, which was still alive and growing, indicating the graves had been disturbed recently. The moss was not growing where the bones were reburied, but in a different part of the cemetery where the plots had been resold, providing evidence of the timeline of the crimes.

  • In 2009, the Burr Oak Cemetery grave desecration case was uncovered.
  • In 2026, a scientific paper was published detailing how moss evidence helped solve the case.

The players

Matt Von Konrat

The Field Museum's head of botany collections and an expert on moss, who helped investigators analyze the moss evidence found at the crime scene.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart

The sheriff who led the investigation into the Burr Oak Cemetery grave desecration case.

Keith Nicks

A cemetery foreman convicted for his role in the grave robbing and reselling scheme at Burr Oak Cemetery.

Terrence Nicks

The brother of Keith Nicks, also convicted for his role in the grave robbing and reselling scheme at Burr Oak Cemetery.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought we're applying our research, our skills, our collections to such a heinous crime.”

— Matt Von Konrat, Field Museum Botanist

“And this is the moss that was found buried with the human remains.”

— Matt Von Konrat, Field Museum Botanist

“It was very important to have them as co-authors, because at the time we were a team.”

— Matt Von Konrat, Field Museum Botanist

“For years people had been digging up graves, removing the remains and then reselling it to a new person and then taking the cash themselves.”

— Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart

“And in a world where some of the most popular television shows… are CSI-related things, this is it. On steroids. This is it.”

— Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart

What’s next

The scientific paper detailing the use of moss evidence in the Burr Oak Cemetery case is expected to inspire further research and adoption of plant-based forensics in law enforcement investigations.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential for overlooked natural evidence, like moss, to play a critical role in solving complex crimes. The innovative use of botanical analysis not only helped secure convictions in the Burr Oak Cemetery case, but also demonstrates the growing field of plant-based forensics as a powerful tool for law enforcement.