http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_15554984
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Although most of her immediate family lives in Virginia, Janet was buried in Brown's Mill Cemetery near Greencastle. Dowd said she was buried in a large family plot, next to the body of her sister, who died years ago of leukemia.
The closest marker to Abaroa's grave simply reads "Christiansen." There is no stone bearing her full name and the dates of her birth and death.
"Raven was adamant that he was going to take care of that, and here we are over five years later and there's nothing there," Dowd said.
He added that the family will likely install a headstone after the case is finally closed.
In addition to investigators, a representative of Raven Abaroa's defense was at the exhumation. As per the judge's orders, this person was allowed to videotape the exhumation and examination.
Dowd said the Christiansen family are devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to their faith, Janet was buried in "temple garments," which are considered sacred.
While the Durham police have agreed not to record video of the open casket until these garments are removed from Janet's body, the defense declined the Christiansen family's request.
"It's kind of a slap in the face for the family," Dowd said.
After the evidence has been gathered today, the remains will be sent back to Geisel Funeral Home for the night, Dowd said. Re-interment is tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to Conner.
By court order, the remains are supposed to be out of the ground for no more than 48 hours, Conner said. He said a time limit is standard procedure for exhumations, and investigators in this case shouldn't need more than the limit.
"We don't want that body out of the ground any longer than necessary, out of respect for the family," he said.