More human remains from Philadelphia's 1985 MOVE bombing found at museum

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Yet another set of remains from a victim of the MOVE bombing has been discovered.

The bombing was conducted by the city of Philadelphia against the Black liberation organization MOVE in 1985.

The city claimed it had been receiving complaints and that the group was a security threat. This week, the remains of a child were found to be at Penn Museum. This discovery was made this week much to the dismay of the child's mother.

"I am hurt to the bone as my whole family is," said Janet Africa as she spoke with Action News.

Janet's 12-year-old daughter, Delisha, was one of 11 people killed in the bombing. She and others from the MOVE organization were imprisoned when the bombing happened. She was told that her child's remains had been turned over to relatives.

RELATED: 11 Philadelphia City Council members issue apology on 35th anniversary of MOVE bombing

All this time, though, those remains have been at the University of Pennsylvania's Museum. Museum workers found them on Tuesday as they were conducting inventory.

"The things we heard they did to our family's remains are horrifying," said Janet Africa.

In 2021, the University of Pennsylvania admitted to keeping the bones of at least one victim. There was also a box of remains discovered at the city of Philadelphia's medical examiner's office. Remains of victims were also being used at Princeton University.

RELATED: MOVE members demanding answers on missing children's remains

One by one they're being returned to the families who lost loved ones, including Janine Africa whose son was one of five children killed in the bombing.

"This is just an act of vengeance and hate," she said.

Penn Museum released a statement that said in part, "Confronting our institutional history requires ever-evolving examination of how we can uphold museum practices to the highest ethical standards."

SEE ALSO: Day of remembrance marks 38 years since tragic Philadelphia bombing

The family says they don't want an apology or money. Instead, they're pushing for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal, an activist and journalist who they say was wrongfully convicted of murder.

They say his release would bring them a sense of justice after all that's happened and the trust that has been broken.

"They wouldn't even let our family rest in peace," said Janet Africa.