LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A woman is accused of stealing a casket from a funeral home that had a body inside, then leaving it out front of the business, according to Las Vegas police.
Patricia Sierra faces charges of burglary, grand larceny and disturbing human remains in connection with the incident on Aug. 27.
According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, someone saw a body lying face down outside of Affordable Cremation and Burial Services at 2127 W. Charleston Boulevard around 3:30 a.m. next to a casket. When police arrived, they found paperwork next to the casket identifying the body. The paperwork also said the viewing for the victim was on Aug. 26, the arrest report said.
Surveillance video from inside the business showed a person entering the business by breaking the front window and unlocking the front door, then walking into the viewing room, grabbing the casket and bringing it out the front door, an arrest report said.
Police said the person made multiple trips in and out of the business before leaving.
A couple days later, LVMPD identified the suspect as Sierra. In an interview with police, the suspect said she had a substance abuse problem and she “blacks out,” an arrest report said. Sierra said she didn’t remember the incident, but admitted she has burglarized a business before by using a rock to bust the window or door, the report said.
Sierra told police “she was not trying to be malicious and was apologetic,” the report said. She later told police she had consumed six beers.
According to court records, Sierra’s bail was set at $11,000. She has a preliminary hearing set for Sept. 18.
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