Las Vegas woman allegedly stole coffin with body inside, police say

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (FOX5) – A woman is accused of stealing a casket containing a body from a funeral home and then leaving it outside the business, Las Vegas police said.

Patricia Sierra is charged with burglary, grand theft and destruction of human remains in connection with the August 27 incident.

According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, someone saw a body lying facedown in front of a casket next to an Affordable Cremation and Burial Services building at 2127 W. Charleston Boulevard around 3:30 a.m. When police arrived, they found papers identifying the body next to the casket. The papers also stated that the victim’s viewing had taken place on Aug. 26, the police report said.

Surveillance video from inside the store shows a person entering the store by breaking the front window and unlocking the front door. The person then went into the funeral room, picked up the casket and carried it out the front door, a police report said.

According to police, the person entered and exited the store several times before leaving.

A few days later, LVMPD identified the suspect as Sierra. During an interview with police, the suspect said she had a drug problem and was “passing out,” an arrest report said. Sierra said she could not remember the incident but admitted she had broken into a business before by breaking the window or door with a rock, the report said.

Sierra told police she “didn’t mean any harm and apologized,” the report said. She later told police she had drunk six beers.

According to court records, Sierra’s bail was set at $11,000. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 18.

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