Dozier Exhumations Close to State OK

Finally, movement on the University of South Florida's request to begin the exhumation of remains at the site of the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.

The Florida board of trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund has on its calendar for Aug. 6 a vote on a joint land-use agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection to permit the excavation of human remains on the Dozier property.

According to the agenda, the board has recommended approving the land-use agreement.

The Florida Legislature allocated $190,000 to USF for this research during the 2013 session. Lara Wade-Martinez, a spokeswoman for USF, said that means "if the land-use agreement is approved at the Tuesday meeting, USF researchers could begin excavation work in August."

In a written statement, Wade-Martinez expressed the university's gratitude to the Florida Cabinet and the board of trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund for considering the application.

"In particular," she said, "USF appreciates Attorney General Pam Bondi for championing Dr. Erin Kimmerle and this USF research to excavate and identify the remains of the boys on the Dozier property. The commitment demonstrated by the attorney generals office and her team is enabling USF to continue working on behalf of the children who were buried in unmarked graves, and their families' fundamental right to have their relatives remains identified and buried in a proper and respectful manner."