Los Angeles

SoCal Man Steals Hearse With Body Inside: DA

Police got a call that a black Cadillac hearse containing a casket was taken from outside a church

A Southern California man is facing charges after authorities say he stole a hearse containing a casket holding the body of a 19-year-old shooting victim whose family chased down the driver.

Ronnie Skipper, 53, pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of grand theft of an automobile and driving or taking a vehicle without consent, and one misdemeanor count of unlawful transportation of remains, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

Police got a call that a black Cadillac hearse containing a casket was taken from outside a church in the 4900 block of Avalon Boulevard in Los Angeles on Saturday morning. When officers arrived, they saw the hearse pulled over, with several people holding down the driver.

The funeral director had gone inside the church, and the hearse had been left unattended, with the engine running.

Skipper, who is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Jan. 5, faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted, according to the LA County District Attorney's Office.

Additional details about the 19-year-old were not available.

It was not immediately clear whether Skipper had a lawyer.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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