A Las Vegas woman is facing a string of charges after allegedly committing a disturbing and bizarre crime at a local funeral home. According to police reports obtained by 8News Now, Patricia Sierra, 47, is accused of stealing a casket containing a corpse from the Affordable Cremation and Burial Service funeral home in the early morning hours of August 27th.
The incident was first brought to the attention of authorities by a passerby who spotted a body lying face down in front of the funeral home. Upon further investigation, officers found that the body had been scheduled for viewing the previous day. Surveillance footage from the funeral home showed a suspect, later identified as Sierra, breaking into the building by shattering a window. She was captured on camera carrying the casket out of the viewing room and leaving it outside the facility before fleeing the scene.
Police later discovered the stolen casket in the landscaping outside of the funeral home, with the body still inside. A representative from Affordable Cremation and Burial Services stated that there is an ongoing investigation into the incident and could not comment further at this time.
After two days of searching, authorities were able to locate Sierra at a convenience store when a witness recognized her. According to Fox 5 Vegas, the suspect admitted to a history of substance abuse and claimed to have no memory of the incident, stating that she sometimes “blacks out.” She also allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol before the break-in occurred.
In an arrest report, Sierra claimed that she did not have any malicious intentions and that she had previously burglarized an establishment by smashing a window with a rock. She currently remains in custody on $11,000 bail and her preliminary hearing is set for September 18th. It is unclear if she has obtained legal representation at this time.
The motive for Sierra’s strange and disturbing crime remains unknown and the investigation is ongoing. The shocking incident has left many in the community wondering what could have led someone to commit such a callous act. As the case progresses, more information may come to light, providing answers to the many questions surrounding this bizarre and disturbing event.