Man Allegedly Tries to Dig Up Grave in Salem's Oldest Cemetery

A Beverly man is facing charges he tried to dig up a grave in Salem’s oldest cemetery.

Police were called to the Burying Point, also known as the Charter Street Cemetery, at 3:20 p.m. on Monday where they found “a large group gathered” and saw a “grave site that was disturbed and cleared away of soil and grass to reveal what appeared to be the top of a crypt,” according to a Salem police report

The grave dated back to the mid-1700s, according to a report by WCVB-TV.

Police said the owner of Salem Wax Museum and Salem Witch Village helped identify Brian Bennett as the person who had allegedly cleared away a grave.

Salem officers and a detective spoke with Bennett before arresting him a few minutes later.

Brian T. Bennett, 26, of 91 Hale St. Beverly was charged with desecrating a place of burial and disorderly conduct, plus arrested on a warrant for using a motor vehicle without authority.

Image: Rusty Clark/Flickr