11:42 PM EDT on Saturday, July 1, 2006

Saturday, living relatives of Louise Rowan are wondering who would have the gall to vandalize the deceased woman's grave.

Rowan died last April at the age of 90, and was buried with other family members.

The burial vault for Rowan and her husband is the only above ground grave in this old, unmarked African-American cemetery right next to Johnsontown Road.

Saturday morning, a passerby noticed Rowan's side of the vault had been pried open and called Rowan's cousin, Ronnie Mucker, who went to the graveyard.

Alberta Rowan says she was extremely close to her relative. She attended Louise Rowan's funeral and says she wasn't buried with any expensive jewelry, antiques or money inside her casket.

Louisville Metro police are investigating the possible grave robbing. Rowan's body was taken to G.C. Williams' funeral home, which will prepare it for re-burial.

Ronnie Mucker said he can't begin to understand who might have opened his relative's casket.

Metro police tell us they have no suspects in this case.

But if they catch the vandals, they'll be charged with abusing a corpse. They could also be charged with burglary if they stole anything from Louise Rowan's casket.