PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The remains of two underage victims of the Philadelphia 1985 MOVE bombing have finally been released to the custody of their brother. The road leading to this momentous occasion in Philadelphia has been shrouded in controversy.
Lionell Dotson was just 8 years old when the city dropped a bomb on Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia, killing 11 people, including his older sisters: 12-year-old Katricia and 14-year-old Zanetta Dotson.
The whereabouts of their remains were unclear for decades until it was revealed in April 2021 that Katricia’s remains had been used for anthropology demonstrations at the Penn Museum without the family’s knowledge or consent. Dotson’s mother, Consuewella, sued to regain possession of their remains but died last year.
Lionell Dotson received their remains from the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office Wednesday morning.
“I’m standing in proxy for my mother. She died last year, so I’m carrying a torch for Consuewella Dotson, Katricia and Zanetta Dotson,” he said. “For the city to give me this is a momentous occasion.”
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The controversy over the remains prompted the resignation of Philadelphia Health Commissioner Tom Farley, who had ordered the remains to be destroyed, but an insubordinate employee kept them in a box.
“Mayor [Jim] Kenney made his announcement about the remains in the Medical Examiner’s Office being found in 2017 cremated, but then the next day he had to retract and said, ‘Oh wait, no, the remains were found. They weren’t cremated,’ ” said Dotson’s attorney, Daniel Hartstein.
The sisters’ remains are being cremated at Ivy Hill Cemetery and Crematory, and then they will be turned over to Lionell Dotson.
“I have lawyers fighting for me. I’m exposing the city for what it is. It’s callous,” he said. “It took them 37 years to do the right thing.”
"Last year, the Mayor met with some family members and apologized to the Africa family in an official statement. At the time of the meeting, Lionell Dotson had not contacted the City and was not in attendance. However, just a few weeks ago, Mr. Dotson met and received an apology from the Health Commissioner on the City’s behalf," the city said in a statement to KYW Newsradio on Wednesday evening.
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