By Tim Binnall
Authorities in West Virginia are on the hunt for a sticky-fingered miscreant who stole the gravestone from a legendary burial plot that has been something of a puzzling paranormal mystery for decades. According to a local media report, the curious case dates back to the summer of 1975 when a hole appeared beside the grave of Harry Spitz, a three-year-old boy who was buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in the city of Morgantown after he died of cholera in 1912. Strangely, a look inside the sizeable opening revealed a crack in the concrete vault that contained his remains, which were later revealed to be perfectly preserved.
All manner of theories were offered as to what could have caused the peculiar explosion that cracked the vault and created the hole next to the grave. Some suggested it could have been a case of vandalism, while others posited that perhaps gas from Spitz's body sparked the weird event. However, even an examination by scientists enlisted to look into the matter failed to solve the mystery, which has become a local legend ever since. In recent years, the tale has taken on a paranormal bent with many suggesting that the cemetery is haunted by the boy or that the odd explosion was supernatural in nature, which has led to the location being a popular spot for ghost hunters and fans of high strangeness.
Alas, the Spitz story found its way back into the headlines on Thursday in what might be the worst way possible as the Morgantown Police Department announced that someone had stolen the gravestone bearing the boy's name. Authorities did not indicate when the theft may have occurred, though one assumes that it was rather recently considering how many visitors the notorious spot attracts. The department called upon the public to provide any tips they might have as to the whereabouts of the gravestone, which will hopefully either be recovered or replaced so that Harry Spitz can get back to resting in peace.