Families who want to rebury their loved ones who initially were buried at the now-closed Dozier School for Boys will be reimbursed, after Governor Rick Scott signed a bill into law doing just that. That’s the Panhandle school associated with a history of alleged abuse.
Robert Straley says he’s happy the Governor signed the bill into law. He’s among many that say they survived the alleged abuse at the former reform school in Marianna.
“I think it’s wonderful! You know, when we started this back in 2007, really, all I wanted to see was Dozier closed down or at least tell the world what happened there.”
Dozier closed in 2011. And, years later, a University of South Florida research team found the remains of 51 boys buried on the Dozier grounds—7 of which have been positively IDed so far. The new law—which immediately took effect—sets up a task force to decide how to take care of the unclaimed remains. It also sets aside up to $7,500 for families who’ve been matched through DNA and want to rebury their loved ones.
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