Woman accused of stealing casket with body inside from Las Vegas funeral home

A woman was arrested for allegedly stealing a casket with a body still inside and dumping the remains, according to an arrest report from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police.

Officers got a report of a suspicious person outside a funeral home on Charleston Boulevard on Tuesday, Aug. 27, the report states.

They found an open casket on a cart, a body left in the landscaping, and an open door with broken glass on the side of the funeral home. When they went inside, the officers did not find any other damage or bodies left out, but they did find a small child's bike on the side of the building.

Police identified the body and learned there was a viewing the day before.

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Detectives reviewed surveillance video from the funeral home and saw a woman break the front window and reach through to unlock the front door. She walked into the viewing room, took the casket out and removed the remains.

Two days later, an officer spotted the woman at a convenience store on Valley View Boulevard, according to the report. Officers detained the woman, who identified herself as Patricia Sierra.

Speaking to detectives, Sierra said she has a substance abuse problem and she "blacks out," police wrote. She said she did not remember the incident and was apologetic, saying she drank six beers beforehand.

"While viewing the video Sierra looked down and acknowledged she was the one in the video," the report states. "When asked why she did it, Sierra continued to state she blacked out and did not remember why she did it."

Sierra remains held at Clark County Detention Center on suspicion of grand larceny, burglary of a business and disturbing human remains. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 18.