SHOCK: Woman's Body Stolen From Long Island Cemetery
EAST FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (CBS 2/1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- On Tuesday evening police were investigating the theft of human remains from a Long Island mausoleum.
Suffolk County police said the break-in at the St. Charles Cemetery happened between 6:30 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.
LISTEN: WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports from Long Island
Authorities said they believe more than one person was involved in the incident. Police said the suspects hopped the fence to get into the cemetery and broke into three mausoleums and removed a body from a crypt, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reports.
"We believe that human remains we're removed from the casket and the cemetery property," Suffolk County Deputy Inspector Robert Brown told CBS 2's Scott Rapoport.
"A casket was removed from the crypt, brought outside the mausoleum building and opened up. There there was a body removed from the casket that was opened up."
Police said the perpetrators knew what they were doing.
"They came to the cemetery prepared. They knew what they would face inside the crypt and what would have to be done to remove a casket and open it," Brown said.
The suspects then likely had to carry the body over the cemetery fence to get away, authorities said.
The body was that of a female buried 12 years ago.
CBS 2's Rapoport reports mourners at the cemetery were beyond disturbed.
"I think it's a horrible thing," one woman said.
The cemetery is operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. A spokesman said the families connected to the three mausoleums have been notified.
The Diocese also released a statement saying, "It is incomprehensible that anyone would violate the sacred resting place of those that have passed from this world to eternal life."
