March 28, 2007, revans@thenewsstar.com

A six-month search to find the grave of a Jonestown, Guyana massacre victim from Monroe may be over.

Earlier today Mary Pearl Willis’ niece, Lela Howard of Culver City, Calif., met with representatives of the city of Monroe and the Louisiana Cemetery Board at Monroe City Cemetery to look for the grave.

Following a two-hour search that included discussions with relatives and eyewitnesses, Howard believes her search is over.

“This is wonderful because I believe in my heart we’ve found it,” said Howard, who flew to Monroe this week to conduct the search. “My plan now is to expedite a request to excavate the area. I don’t want to leave Monroe until I see them break ground.”

Howard said she wants the remains exhumed so she can ensure they are those of her aunt.

Willis was a member of the Rev. Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple and one of 900 victims in the November 1978 mass murder-suicide that Jones ordered.

Howard’s quest to find the grave began in October after she contacted Monroe’s Public Works Department to find out if any restrictions existed on putting a headstone on Willis’ grave. She was told the grave could not be found and nothing could be done to about it.

She filed a complaint that same month with Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s office because the city failed to document the location of Willis’ grave.

Blanco’s office forwarded the complaint to the state Cemetery Board, which is responsible for handling cemetery complaints.

A Monroe Cemetery Board member observed Wednesday’s search.

“We have good records from the early 1980s forward,” Janway said. “After the early 1980s, we can track the graves and won’t have similar problems.”