WATERTOWN, N.Y. — John W. Rice, 19, of Sackets Harbor, was charged Sunday morning with third-degree burglary, body stealing and cemetery desecration, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.
It is alleged he entered a mausoleum in Brookside Cemetery in the town of Watertown, broke into a sealed vault and stole a human skull from the coffin of Sallie Normander sometime in September. Ms. Normander is believed to have died in 1821.
Detectives said he has no idea what motivated Mr. Rice in the alleged crime because he has not been willing to talk.