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The dark history of NYC's Hart Island

It's where New Yorkers without relatives or close ones are buried, even during the coronavirus crisis. Hart Island has a long history of tragedies and secrets...

04/14/2020 7:01 PMupdated: 04/15/2020 11:48 AM
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23 comments

  • Brian M.
    04/20/2020 18:01

    Where the dirt that they took out the hole and why are they using shovels

  • Marie E.
    04/17/2020 07:56

    So very sad

  • Sharon S.
    04/17/2020 01:19

    heartbreaking

  • Linda P.
    04/17/2020 00:23

    Tragic

  • Gerry B.
    04/17/2020 00:03

    Why aren't they cremated? Are they Jews or Muslims?

  • Donna C.
    04/16/2020 17:36

    You disappoint me America.

  • Ken W.
    04/16/2020 17:16

    Yes I didn’t understand that myself

  • Vonda G.
    04/16/2020 16:09

    Homeless and the poor

  • Stephanie O.
    04/16/2020 15:03

    https://youtu.be/zLl5yikUKfk This is a great link to a video explaining why this is being done. As for those asking about cremation, funeral homes and crematoriums are private businesses that sometimes do take in unclaimed bodies for cremation. After they are cremated, their remains must stay at that funeral home/crematorium until they are claimed (sometimes they never are). Also, cremation is possible with someone who has had COVID-19. However, a cremation takes 2-3 hours depending on the body size and fat content of the individual. Most crematoriums only have a few cremation chambers. Under non-pandemic circumstances, most crematoriums can take a few unclaimed bodies here and there but if there is a surge in unclaimed corpses, it becomes difficult to cremate every unclaimed body. This island has a long history of burying unclaimed bodies. Please keep in mind that these bodies are clearly labeled and kept separate (this is not a mass grave without organization where bodies are just dumped). Hopefully this was helpful!

  • Margaret B.
    04/16/2020 13:42

    Well I don’t know about other religions but for the Jewish religion we do not cremate

  • Mike R.
    04/16/2020 12:45

    Why not cremate vs bury?

  • Ram K.
    04/16/2020 12:42

    Why can't they burn dead bodies who died with corona virus?

  • Katherine L.
    04/15/2020 09:40

    Both tragic and poignant at the same time.

  • Willem C.
    04/15/2020 09:33

    Yes yes . That is the place .

  • Monkeu D.
    04/15/2020 07:53

    These are the results of their election to Trump, so they cannot bear the results

  • Clem K.
    04/15/2020 05:02

    Sad

  • Daniela V.
    04/15/2020 04:52

    So sad😔

  • Juli D.
    04/15/2020 04:32

    this is what mom was talking about 🥺

  • Elgar F.
    04/15/2020 03:45

    I look at all the lonely people

  • Lumy M.
    04/15/2020 01:24

    Death is NO Pick-nick! That is all I can mustar to [email protected]