War Hero Who Committed Suicide Buried in Long Island Backyard: Police

Police say several people who buried a Long Island war hero who committed suicide in his back yard could face criminal charges, even though the man’s wishes were to be buried there.

Nassau County police said they were called to the home in North Bellmore after getting a tip about a man who had been buried in the backyard. They later dug up the man, in his 80s, and determined that he shot himself several days earlier.

Police said they later learned that the man was suffering from a disease and had asked to be buried in his yard. So people who knew him carried out those wishes and buried him in a shallow grave.

Those people could now face charges because it’s illegal to bury someone in a yard, police said. No arrests have been made, however.

“Trying to obey his wishes, I get that, no matter how misguided it may be,” said Nassau County Police Chief Kevin Smith.

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