Body of Pa. child who died in 1962 stolen

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Authorities in central Pennsylvania are trying to find out who stole the body of a nine-year-old child who died almost four decades ago from her grave in a local a cemetery.

Lancaster police are investigating the disappearance of the body of Paula Ream, who died in August 1962 and was buried in Riverview Cemetery.

Family members say they were shocked when a police supervisor and a chaplain told them Friday evening that someone had dug up the grave sometime between 4 p.m. Thursday and about 1 p.m. Friday and made off with Paula’s child-sized casket and her remains.

The thieves left her dirt-covered cemetery plaque askew near the markers of her mother and father, who are buried next to her grave. Relatives say they had just visited the gravesite about a week and a half ago and nothing was amiss.