Police Probe Mysterious Grave Marker

MORENCI (WWJ/AP) - A resident of the southern Michigan community of Morenci found a grave marker in the backyard.

The resident was doing some gardening recently and discovered the marker, buried face down about a foot under the yard's surface.

The question for Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks is this: Who are Darrel F. and Catherine R. Gottschalk?

The full-sized marker indicates Darrel was born in 1914 and died in 1972, while Catherine's birth date is listed as 1928.

Weeks is trying to figure out why the stone was there.

"We're looking for anyone with information as to why that (stone) is there. Hopefully a relative can come forward and help solve this mystery," Weeks told The Daily Telegram of Adrian.

The chief tracked down a previous resident who lived at the house in the 1970s, but the person didn't know the Gottschalks.

Database and archive searches also came up empty.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Morenci Police Department at 517-458-7104.

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