A man was arrested by Baltimore County Police following desecration of a mausoleum at Gardens of Faith Memorial Gardens in Overlea. Police responded to a burglary call from the property manager on Thursday at 2:20 p.m. at the site.
According to police, the man broke into a mausoleum and was seen shattering glass display cases containing urns and memorabilia. He stole jewelry and other items that had been left in the display cases, then destroyed the urns containing the ashes of the deceased. He used a fire extinguisher to destroy a number of marble tombstone vaults containing human remains and discharged the fire extinguisher around the mausoleum.
Booking photo of Emanuel Eric PadillaThe suspect, identified as Emanuel Eric Padilla (22) with no fixed address, fled toward Kenwood Avenue where responding officers located him and placed him under arrest. Jewelry and other memorabilia was recovered from the suspect. Officials estimate the destruction and theft value at over $50,000.
The Baltimore County Police Burglary Unit is continuing the investigation into this case. They will be working with cemetery personnel to identify and return the stolen property to the families affected by this incident as quickly as possible.
Padilla remains in custody, charged with the following:
•Second degree burglary
•Fourth degree burglary
•Destruction of property
•Theft
•Removing human remains
•Destroying funerary object