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Lynyrd Skynyrd Graves Vandalized
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever vandalized the Florida graves of two founding members of the Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The tomb of Ronnie Van Zant and the mausoleum containing the ashes of Steve Gaines were broken open June 29 at Jacksonville Memory Gardens.
Van Zant’s coffin had been pulled from its tomb to the ground, but remained sealed. Gaines’ ashes were spilled from their container but were recovered.
Mary Justino, a spokeswoman for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, said July 3 that police still have no motive and no suspects.
The disturbed remains were taken to a mortuary while family members decide what they want to do with them, Justino said.
“They just couldn’t understand why someone would do this,” she said.
Van Zant and Gaines were killed in an airplane crash on Oct. 20, 1977.