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The quiet, solitary gravestone at the edge of the cemetery where Mary Richardson Kennedy was ultimately laid to rest, a somber reminder of the complex family dynamics and personal tragedies that have long haunted the Kennedy dynasty.Manhattan Today
According to a new biography on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he moved the remains of his second wife, Mary Richardson Kennedy, from the Kennedy family plot to an unmarked grave at the edge of the cemetery without her family’s knowledge or consent. Mary died by suicide in 2012 while the couple’s divorce was pending.
Why it matters
This revelation raises questions about the Kennedy family’s handling of Mary’s death and burial, as well as RFK Jr.’s treatment of his ex-wife’s remains. It also highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities within the Kennedy dynasty, particularly around issues of mental health, addiction, and family dynamics.
The details
The book RFK, Jr.: The Fall and Rise by investigative journalist Isabel Vincent states that after Mary’s initial burial next to Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver in Massachusetts, RFK Jr. later exhumed her coffin and reburied it in an unmarked plot 700 feet away from the family plot. Mary’s family was unaware of this relocation of her remains.
Mary Richardson Kennedy died by suicide in May 2012.She was initially buried next to other Kennedy family members in May 2012.Several days later, RFK Jr. moved her remains to an unmarked plot at the edge of the cemetery.Mary’s coffin was exhumed and reburied 700 feet away from the family plot two months later in July 2012.
The players
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The son of former U.S. Attorney General and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Mary’s second husband.
Mary Richardson Kennedy
RFK Jr.’s second wife, who died by suicide in 2012 while their divorce was pending.
Isabel Vincent
The investigative journalist who authored the upcoming biography ‘RFK, Jr.: The Fall and Rise’.
Patricia Hennessey
The Richardson family’s lawyer, who stated they were unaware of the relocation of Mary’s remains.
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What they’re saying
“We were unaware of this, and we were not informed about it.”
— Patricia Hennessey, Richardson family lawyer
“I know Bobby well enough to know that Mary’s suicide is a weight he will carry for the rest of his life. That’s going to haunt him.”
— Former close friend of RFK Jr.
What’s next
The upcoming biography ‘RFK, Jr.: The Fall and Rise’ by Isabel Vincent is set to be released on April 14, 2026, which may provide additional details and context around this controversial incident.
The takeaway
This story highlights the ongoing complexities and tensions within the Kennedy family, particularly around issues of mental health, addiction, and the treatment of loved ones. It raises questions about RFK Jr.’s actions and the Kennedy family’s handling of Mary’s death and burial, underscoring the need for greater transparency and sensitivity in such sensitive matters.