-April 22nd Memorial Group Discovers Absence of Love Ones’ Remains at Presumed Burial Site
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – The April 22nd Memorial Group reveals that the remains of their loved ones—former President William R. Tolbert, Jr., 13 government officials, and security personnel killed during the 1980 coup—are missing from their presumed burial site at Palm Grove Cemetery in Monrovia.
The shocking discovery was made during an exhumation exercise on February 18, 2025, at the cemetery on Center Street, where families have gathered for 45 years to mourn and pay their respects. The absence of the remains has sparked a wave of disbelief and raised urgent questions about what happened to the bodies of those who were brutally assassinated on April 22, 1980.
“We are devastated and heartbroken,” said a spokesperson for the April 22nd Memorial Group, which represents the families of the victims. “For decades, we were led to believe that our fathers were buried here. Now, we are left with more questions than answers. Where are their remains? What happened to them?”
The April 22nd Memorial Group, a privately funded initiative supported solely by the families and friends of the victims, has been working for over two years to locate and memorialize the remains of those killed in the coup. The discovery that the remains are missing has dealt a heavy blow to their efforts, but the group remains determined to uncover the truth.
“This is not just about finding their remains; it’s about justice, closure, and honoring their legacy,” the spokesperson added. “We will not rest until we know what happened to our fathers and where they truly lie.”
The group emphasized that their initiative has been entirely self-funded, with no government support, and that they remain committed to memorializing the victims regardless of the outcome of their search. They also expressed gratitude to President Joseph Boakai for acknowledging the contributions of the victims to Liberia’s history and for his willingness to collaborate in preserving their legacy.
However, the revelation has left many Liberians questioning the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the remains. Was there a deliberate effort to conceal their burial site? Were the remains moved, and if so, by whom and for what purpose? These questions have reignited conversations about accountability and transparency in the aftermath of one of Liberia’s darkest chapters.
The April 22nd Memorial Group has called on the public to join them in prayer for national reconciliation and healing, while also urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of the remains to come forward. “As for our fathers, we will remember them,” the group vowed. “But we also demand answers.”
