Another Delay for Burr Oak Suspects

For the second time in as many days, the four former cemetery workers accused of digging up corpses and reselling burial plots at Alsip's historic Burr Oak Cemetery showed up in court for their arraignment only to have it delayed.

That's especially frustrating for family members of the disinterred, like Venus Stubbs, whose mother is thought to be among the bodies discarded.

"My mom's remains is no longer there, but I feel like I'm still burying her," Stubbs said.

Maurice Dailey, Carolyn Towns, Keith Nicks and Terrence Nicks face a seven-count indictment for desecrating human remains. They were originally scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, but that was delayed until Friday because one defendant wanted a new judge and another didn't have an attorney.

Then at Friday's hearing, the arraignment was delayed again as attorneys for three defendants discussed their objections to various judges before settling on Cook County Judge Frank Castiglione.

The accused appeared in court Thursday wearing shackles. A judge on Friday ordered them removed.

"Hopefully, going forward, there'll be no more shackles, no more manacles, and if we could get away from the yellow jump-suits, so that Mr. Nicks and the other accused are treated as any other defendant is treated in a criminal case," said Public Defender Kevin Smith.

The case will return to court Tuesday.

Full Coverage:  Desecration at Burr Oak Cemetery