local
A Detroit family visited 19-year-old’s grave for years. Then a stranger’s headstone appeared
By Noelle Friel at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· June 23, 2026
· 7 min read
The family of 19-year-old Roland Moore says they spent years visiting his gravesite, believing he was buried alone, until they learned a decade later that another person had been placed in the same grave.Moore was killed in 2011. His family says they routinely visit his headstone at Gethsemane Ce...
Key takeaway In 2021, Moore’s sister, Carlessta Bell, said she arrived at the gravesite and saw a new headstone placed directly in front of her brother’s marker — for a woman the family does not know.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The revelation that Roland Moore's grave was shared with a stranger has raised questions about the oversight and accountability of local funeral homes and cemeteries. This incident is particularly concerning given the history of issues with Butler Funeral Home, which was previously investigated for mishandling remains. The fact that the family's documents, including the interment record and paperwork signed with the funeral home, do not mention a double grave suggests a breakdown in communication and record-keeping. As the family seeks answers and clarity on what happened, it highlights the need for transparency and rigorous protocols in the funeral industry to prevent such mistakes from occurring in the future. The community will be watching to see how Gethsemane Cemetery and Butler Funeral Home respond to this incident and what steps they will take to ensure that families can trust that their loved ones are being treated with dignity and respect.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 23, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 7 min
Get more The Detroit stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The family of 19-year-old Roland Moore says they spent years visiting his gravesite, believing he was buried alone, until they learned a decade later that another person had been placed in the same grave.Moore was killed in 2011. His family says they routinely visit his headstone at Gethsemane Ce...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 23, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Noelle Friel at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter