Idiot of the Week: Man climbs into mausoleum and couldn't get out.

We like exploring cemeteries, but would never, ever disturb someone's burial place, but this week's idiot didn't mind. He crawled into a mausoleum (who does that?!?), and had to be rescued. He's this week's idiot. 

Man climbs into mausoleum and can't get out. Now he faces criminal charges. 

Karen Dandurant Foster's Daily Democrat, May 5, 2025

DURHAM, NH — Emergency responders were sent to an unusual call Thursday night, May 1, a person who was reportedly stuck inside a mausoleum at Jackson's Landing.

Assistant Police Chief David Holmstock confirmed that a male, not a juvenile, had been rescued from the structure. He did not know how he had gotten inside.

"Criminal trespassing charges will be forthcoming," said Holmstock. "We will be putting together a warrant."

Emergency crews had to rescue a man who entered the Emerson Mausoleum at Jackson's Landing Thursday night and then couldn't get out.

Durham Fire Marshal Brendan O'Sullivan said they were toned out at 10:09 p.m. Thursday, May 1.

"There were no injuries," said O'Sullivan. "Crews got him out and then left him with police. Apparently gravity was on his side going in, but it worked against him when he tried to get out."

O'Sullivan said the unidentified man called someone with his cell phone from inside the tomb and they called for help.

Town Administrator Todd Selig said the mausoleum is owned by the Emerson family, one of the town's founding families. 

"Jackson's Landing is owned by the town, but the mausoleum predates that," Selig said. "It is private, and on the water, a beautiful final resting place."

Selig said there is also a small cemetery there, but the mausoleum sits apart from it.

"We had the area surveyed this winter," Selig said. "There has been some shifting of granite there. I can only speculate that this person found a crack, maybe crawled in and then got stuck."