Aerial survey · USDA NAIP · public domainA small Belleville cemetery named for the Soop family, where local lore surrounding Elizabeth Soop — said to have practiced witchcraft before her 1899 death — has made it one of Wayne County's more investigated paranormal sites.
49250 Old Denton Rd, Belleville, MI 48111
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free to visit during posted hours
Access
Wheelchair OK
Flat cemetery grounds with gravel paths
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1800 · Named for the Soop family, Wayne County landowners from the early 1900s · Formerly known as Pleasantview Cemetery · Documented interment of Elizabeth Soop, d. December 1899 age 73 · Site of debunked true-crime association (Jane Mixer case — DNA established no connection)
Soop Cemetery sits in Van Buren Township near Belleville, Michigan, adjacent to I-94 and the Old Denton Road service drive. The cemetery takes its name from the Soop family, who owned the property and surrounding land until the early 1900s, and was known as Pleasantview Cemetery for many decades before reverting to the original family name.
The cemetery overlooks Belleville Lake and is a small, quiet Victorian-era burial ground. The most historically documented figure associated with the site is Elizabeth Soop, who died in December 1899 at age 73 from dropsy — a condition now understood as congestive heart failure. Two Elizabeth Soop graves are present in the cemetery.
Some online accounts have incorrectly linked Soop Cemetery to sensational true-crime events, including the 1968 murder of Jane Mixer. Investigations and subsequent DNA evidence established that Mixer's body was found at a different location entirely, and Gary Earl Leiterman was identified as the perpetrator by DNA evidence decades later. These false links have been debunked by Mysterious Michigan and should not be associated with Soop Cemetery.
Sources
Soop Cemetery's paranormal reputation centers on Elizabeth Soop, who died in 1899 and around whom rumors of witchcraft practice have circulated for generations in Belleville. According to Mysterious Michigan's documented investigation, 'a distant family member allegedly confirmed' that Elizabeth did practice some form of folk or herbal practice, though the specific tombstone features described in internet folklore — particularly downward-pointing hands said to symbolize evil — do not actually exist at either of the two Elizabeth Soop graves in the cemetery.
The Detroit Rock City Paranormal team conducted a formal investigation at the site, using audio recorders, an Ovilus device, dowsing rods, and an SB11 spirit box. Their session produced EVP responses that they interpreted as the word 'heart attack' captured during a 10-minute session, and Ovilus outputs including the words 'damned,' 'Alice,' and 'pain.' Two individuals named Alice are buried in proximity to the investigation area.
Visitors have independently reported encountering shadowy figures 3–4 feet tall moving toward them, sudden temperature drops of up to 20 degrees, and disembodied footsteps and voices. The Shadowlands description of the site references orbs appearing in digital photographs — a phenomenon reported more generally at the cemetery rather than verified through independent investigation. Note: paranormal orb photography is not considered credible evidence by most investigators and is not cited as a primary reason for this entry.
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Self-guided visit to this Victorian-era cemetery overlooking Belleville Lake. Seek out the two Elizabeth Soop grave markers and explore the historical context of the Soop family and their connection to the community.
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