BOSTON marathon bombings Funeral director mulls burial offers

Associated Press

BOSTON

A Massachusetts funeral director said Monday he has received burial offers from out-of-state cemeteries for the body of a Boston Marathon bombing suspect who was killed in a gunbattle with police, even as Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s mother told him she wants the body returned to Russia.

But Worcester funeral home director Peter Stefan said despite the request, he doesn’t think Russia will take Tsarnaev’s body, and he is working on other arrangements.

He declined to be more specific.

Meanwhile, Robel Phillipos, 19, a friend of the surviving suspect’s in the bombings was released from federal custody Monday amid a swell of support from family and friends, but was under strict house arrest and only allowed to leave his home to meet with lawyers and for true emergencies.

Also, the administrator of the One Fund Boston released the protocol for payouts of the fund, with the families of those who lost loved ones and individuals who suffered double amputations or permanent brain damage in the bombings receiving the highest payments.

The question of where Tamerlan Tsarnaev will be buried dragged on for another day, and the issue seemed far from resolved.

Stefan also said he had out-of-state burial offers but refused to give additional details, adding he was worried that protests will rise up at any place that agrees to the burial, as they have at his own funeral home.