New details in the Galilee Memorial Gardens case - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC

New details in the Galilee Memorial Gardens case; families join class-action lawsuit

By WMCActionNews5.com Staff
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The state ordered Galilee to stop burials in 2011 but according to the class action lawsuit, the cemetery continued business as usual. The state ordered Galilee to stop burials in 2011 but according to the class action lawsuit, the cemetery continued business as usual.
Corey Taylor was arrested and charged with theft of property and the abuse of a corpse. Corey Taylor was arrested and charged with theft of property and the abuse of a corpse.
(WMC-TV) - More people are joining the Galilee Memorial Gardens Cemetery body piling lawsuit.

While no amount of money could undo the agony felt by families with loved ones buried in the cemetery, Attorney Howard Manis hopes a multi-million dollar class action lawsuit will offer some closure.

"The class action is seeking damages in the amount of $200 million and that is based on the anticipated size of the class," said Manis.

Manis represents the family of Renisha Johnson, killed in 2011 and buried in Galilee. The Johnson's were one of the first families to come forward with questions about their daughter's missing remains.

Her case is specifically mentioned in the arrest affidavit of 21-year-old Corey Taylor, who was arrested Friday afternoon.

At least 150 families have come forward with complaints against the cemetery, and in a phone interview, Manis says that number continues to grow.

"By no means is that the size of the class. We think that the class may be as great as 1,500 to 2000 based on the information we received as to the number of funerals that were being held every Saturday and Sunday out at the cemetery," noted Manis.

The state ordered Galilee to stop burials in 2011 but according to the class action lawsuit, the cemetery continued business as usual.

The district attorneys office is heading this investigation and the cemetery still an active crime scene.

Taylor was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with theft of property and the abuse of a corpse.

In a detailed affidavit, investigators say Taylor used a computer in the cemetery office to produce a list that showed three to four bodies were buried in one grave.

The report suggests he even served as a witness, noting that "Taylor was also present when Robert Savage aka "Juicy" crushed caskets with the wheel of a backhoe in effort to make room for multiple caskets."

Action News 5 went to Taylor's last known address on South Parkway, but no one answered. Neighbors say Taylor's car remains on the street, and that he apparently rents out rooms in the house for boarding. When the Action News 5 team arrived, there were keys left in the door.

A neighbor told Action News 5 that he knew Taylor worked at Galilee but had no idea he was caught up in any crimes at the cemetery.

The owner of the cemetery, Jemar Lambert, is in jail with no bond.

"The Johnson family is eager to get resolution. To this day they still have no idea where Renisha Johnson, their daughter, is buried," added Manis.

Copyright 2014 WMC-TV. All rights reserved. 

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