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Worcester Funeral Director Offers To Handle 'Baby Doe' Burial

WORCESTER (CBS) – The Worcester funeral director who handled the burial of one of the Boston Marathon bombers has volunteered to bury the unidentified girl found dead on Deer Island when officials decide to lay her to rest.

Peter Stefan, whose funeral home handled the controversial burial of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, said that after watching coverage of Baby Doe on the news, he wanted to help.

Baby Doe
The image of the girl circulated for months by State Police. (Image credit Mass. State Police)

Stefan is the owner of Graham, Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors in Worcester.

The funeral owner said he does not want to see a 4-year-old buried without proper headstone markings.

He told WBZ-TV he would be willing to absorb the cost of the burial, and would bury the girl with "Baby Doe" plaques if she is still unidentified.

When the girl's identity is known, Stefan said he would change the burial plot to include her real name.

The funeral director said he has not yet been in touch with investigators about his proposal.

Deer Island Girl
A blanket and pants that were found with a girl who was found dead on Deer Island. (Images: Massachusetts State Police)

A woman walking her dog found the girl on Deer Island in Winthrop on June 25 and her identity remains a mystery.

Recently police launched two anonymous tip lines they hope will help them find out who the girl is.

The girl's body remains in the medical examiner's office. Police are not sure how long it will be before she is buried.

A cause of death has not yet been found.

Stefan added that he does not want others to create a fundraiser to pay for the services.

Instead, he proposes that his funeral home would take care of the cost and people could donate money somewhere else in the child's name.

Anyone with information can text GIRL followed by the tip to 67283.

In addition, tips can be called in anonymously to the 24-hour phone line at (617) 396-5655.

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