Mississippi Burning relived with exhumation

US FEDERAL investigators have unearthed a concrete vault containing Emmett Till’s casket at a suburban Chicago, Illinois cemetery, hoping to find clues into his 1955 slaying in Mississippi that became a key event in the civil rights movement and inspired the movie Mississippi Burning.

The muddy cement vault was loaded onto a flatbed truck and headed to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, where an autopsy was planned. No autopsy was performed when the 14-year-old black Chicagoan was killed.

"One purpose of this is to positively identify the remains and dispel any rumours as to whether it is truly Emmett Till or not," FBI spokesman Frank Bochte said. A second reason, he said, is to "see if any further evidence can be looked at to help Mississippi officials bring additional charges, if warranted".