Two Florida men are accused of allegedly grave robbing and targeting the burial sites of veterans “because the spirit is much stronger in a hero," according to ClickOrlando.
Reporters said 43-year-old Brian Montalvo Tolentino and 39-year-old Juan Burgos Lopez were arrested in Polk County. Deputies said the men broke into four separate graves from Edgewood Cemetery in Mount Dora last month. Authorities claim the men took body parts from each person inside and even attempted to access a fifth grave.
Come Friday (January 8), Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said they executed a search warrant at Lopez's home. Officials found a shed with a religious shrine and seven skulls, he added.
"For the first time that I’m aware of. What we found was a Palo Mayombe shrine,” Judd said. Three of the four tombs belonged to members of the armed forces. The family of the fourth deceased person said she was a caregiver and not in the armed forces.
“When asked about why a hero’s grave, he (Lopez) said because the spirit is much stronger in a hero than it is a normal person,” Judd said. “And also when you have the skull of a hero, the spirit is not only stronger but it can protect you from evil.”
Lopez allegedly referred to cemeteries as “holy sites and shopping centers," according to the sheriff. “He complained that in the United States, it’s difficult in getting human remains to practice his religion," Judd added.
Both men face four counts of disturbing contents of a grave and abuse of a dead body and one count of disturbing contents of a grave. Burgos was additionally charged with buying, selling and trafficking dead bodies.
Photo: Polk County Sheriff's Office