USF Team Asks Secretary of State to Reconsider Exhuming Bodies at Dozier

The team of researchers at the University of South Florida working to exhume the bodies at the Dozier School for Boys has fired back at Secretary of State Ken Detzner, asking him to reconsider the conclusion that the Department of State does not have the authority to issue archaeological permits to exhume human remains "under the circumstances."

The team from USF, led by Drs. Erin Kimmerle and Christian Wells, said there were two "threshold issues" they wished to have clarified. The team emphasized that the purpose of their research is not just to excavate bodies for research in itself, but also to return the remains of the bodies to their families. The team also requested that Detzner clarify under what circumstances his agency could authorize the excavation of human remains.

"Is the authorization only possible when there is a danger that an unmarked burial will be damaged or destroyed? This clarification is needed because archaeologists in Florida often excavate and relocate human remains under the authority of the Division of Historical Resources of the Department of State," read the letter to Detzner.

USF has asked Detzner to reconsider the rejection of the research permit. If the agency continues to reject USF's permit, the team has asked for a Final Agency Order stating the basis for denial.

Detzner has not yet responded to USF's letter.