Families who lost their loved ones in the Burr Oak Cemetery scandal are beginning to receive their payback.
The $50 to $100 payments, many said, are insulting.
"I just was hurt, disappointed, disgusted," said Lorene Franklin, who has two sisters and a niece buried at the historic Alsip resting place. "It felt cheap, because ... $100? $100?"
Her daughter said the payment felt like hush money.
"There's a rip in my heart," said Valerie Campbell, who said she still isn't sure where her two boys, grandfather, aunts and uncle are buried after cemetery workers resold dug-up plots in a money-making scheme.
"[The lawyers] had us sign stuff real fast, and the next thing I know, they send me $100. What am I gonna do with $100?"
Attorney Tom Leahy said he took dozens of similar cases pro bono and said he fears that with the cost of burials increasing, more scandals will be unearthed.
"I hope that once cemetery owners recognize their increased exposure because of the new laws, they'll go ahead and increase their insurance coverage so maybe in the future when this happens again there will be more money to compensate the victims," said Leahy.
The ringleader of the scandal, Carolyn Towns, was sentenced to 12 years in prison last July and the other three participants are still in court.
