Expert: Grave-Robbing Contrary To Witchcraft
Grave From 1820s Found Dug Up After Halloween

POSTED: 6:12 pm EST November 7, 2007

HILLSBORO, N.H. -- Practitioners of witchcraft are reacting strongly to a

a grave dug up in Hillsboro and suggestions that believers in witchcraft

been responsible.

The grave in the Bible Hill Cemetery was dug up last week, possibly on

night. The grave belonged to Sarah Symonds, who died in 1821, and there

left of her body.

A Hillsboro police lieutenant who spoke to News 9 suggested that the grave

been dug up by practitioners of witchcraft, but Dawn Whiting, owner of

metaphysical store in Concord, N.H., said that wasn't likely.

"I thought you'd be getting a few calls from those practicing

Wiccans and pagans saying you are misguided," Whiting said.

Whiting said she isn't a witch or a Wiccan, but she shares many of their

grave-robbing isn't one of them.

"They don't believe in power from taking from something else," she said.

be taking from the family, taking from the earth because she's already

the earth. They would not do anything like that."

Whiting said grave-robbing leans more toward Satanism, a belief system

from witchcraft.

"It's like night and day," she said. "Satanism is for, lack of a better

cult-like worshiping, sacrificing and doing harm sometimes. Not everyone

I'm kind of lumping it all into one category."

"The Wiccans' creed is, 'Do you no harm,' so it mimics the Christians' 'Do

others as you would have them do unto you,'" she said.

Because police believe the grave was dug on Halloween night, and Whiting

would be another indication witches weren't involved. Halloween is the

Year, a time for candles, ceremonies and food offerings.

Lt. Darren Remillard apologized Wednesday for linking the grave robbery to
witchcraft, saying it was likely a prank or someone "misusing some sort of

Expert: Grave-Robbing Contrary To Witchcraft
Grave From 1820s Found Dug Up After Halloween

POSTED: 6:12 pm EST November 7, 2007

HILLSBORO, N.H. -- Practitioners of witchcraft are reacting strongly to a
story about a grave dug up in Hillsboro and suggestions that believers in
witchcraft might have been responsible.

The grave in the Bible Hill Cemetery was dug up last week, possibly on
Halloween night. The grave belonged to Sarah Symonds, who died in 1821,
and there was no trace left of her body.

A Hillsboro police lieutenant who spoke to News 9 suggested that the grave
might have been dug up by practitioners of witchcraft, but Dawn Whiting,
owner of Pachamama, a metaphysical store in Concord, N.H., said that
wasn't likely.

"I thought you'd be getting a few calls from those practicing
witchcraft -- the Wiccans and pagans saying you are misguided," Whiting
said.

Whiting said she isn't a witch or a Wiccan, but she shares many of their
beliefs, and grave-robbing isn't one of them.

"They don't believe in power from taking from something else," she said.
"That would be taking from the family, taking from the earth because she's
already been given to the earth. They would not do anything like that."

Whiting said grave-robbing leans more toward Satanism, a belief system
very different from witchcraft.

"It's like night and day," she said. "Satanism is for, lack of a better
term, more cult-like worshiping, sacrificing and doing harm sometimes. Not
everyone does, but I'm kind of lumping it all into one category."

"The Wiccans' creed is, 'Do you no harm,' so it mimics the Christians' 'Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you,'" she said.

Because police believe the grave was dug on Halloween night, and Whiting
said that would be another indication witches weren't involved. Halloween
is the Wiccan New Year, a time for candles, ceremonies and food offerings.

Lt. Darren Remillard apologized Wednesday for linking the grave robbery to
witchcraft, saying it was likely a prank or someone "misusing some sort of
religion."

A Hillsboro police lieutenant who spoke to News 9 suggested that the grave might have
been dug up by practitioners of witchcraft, but Dawn Whiting, owner of Pachamama, a
metaphysical store in Concord, N.H., said that wasn't likely.

"They don't believe in power from taking from something else," she said. "That would
be taking from the family, taking from the earth because she's already been given to
the earth. They would not do anything like that."

Whiting said grave-robbing leans more toward Satanism, a belief system very different
from witchcraft.

"It's like night and day," she said. "Satanism is for, lack of a better term, more
cult-like worshiping, sacrificing and doing harm sometimes. Not everyone does, but
I'm kind of lumping it all into one category."