Above: Mary Vetsera, 1886 (detail). According to Fritz Judtmann, this is probably the photo that Helene provided as a model for the Virgin Mary's face in the stained glass window in the Heiligenkreuz chapel.

Source: Wien Museum online collection.

16. Mary's Burial (continued)

Nor was Mary allowed to rest in peace. In April, 1945 Russian troops set up gun batteries on the edge of Heiligenkreuz cemetery in order to shell retreating German forces at Alland. After the Russians were gone it was found that all the tombs in the cemetery had been broken into. Mary's copper coffin had been hacked open. Her skull was found alongside the coffin.

Mary's remains were disturbed again when the coffin was repaired in 1955. Monks at the abbey claimed to have found a small skeleton in the coffin with no sign of a bullet wound to the head (Wikipedia).

Then in 1959 Gerd Holler, a physician, along with other specialists and members of the Vetsera family, opened the coffin again. They found Mary's bones in dissarray together with shoes and long black hair.

Holler opined that the damage to her skull might have been caused by grave robbers or a blow to the head inflicted by someone other than Rudolf. His conclusion was that Mary died accidentally, probably as the result of an abortion.

In 1991 a Linz furniture dealer and dedicated Mayerling hobbyist broke into the tomb. He stole Mary's skeleton and paid for a forensic examination by a pathologist in order to clear up the "mystery" of her death.

The culprit was arrested after he tried to sell the story and Mary's remains to a journalist. Further examination was inconclusive since part of the skull was missing.

Mary was reburied, hopefully for the last time, in October, 1993.