Posted on Tue, Jul. 01, 2003


Thurmond's body present during break-in



Aiken Intruders at an Aiken funeral home did not disturb the body of Sen. Strom Thurmond, the home's director says.

Thurmond died at 100 on Thursday and his body was taken to Shellhouse Funeral Home in Aiken.

Saturday night at about 9 p.m., police were called to the business, according to a report in the Aiken Standard on Tuesday.

Funeral director Robert Shellhouse told officers that funeral home staff reported hearing two people enter a side door of the facility used for flower deliveries. According to Shellhouse, the two people ran upstairs and were heard to open several doors on the upper floor. Staff members called out and scared the intruders away.

Shellhouse said Thurmond's body was locked in a first-floor room when the break-in occurred. "No one ever went into that room and that door was locked," he said.

Afterward, a police car was stationed outside the funeral home and security was increased, Aiken Public Safety Sgt. David Turno said.

A police report said no evidence was found that would identify the intruders.





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