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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Stolen hearse carrying casket recovered after Los Angeles freeway chase

Los Angeles police officers stand after a pursuit of a stolen hearse with with a casket and body inside on Interstate 110 in South Los Angeles Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. The hearse was stolen from outside a Greek Orthodox church in East Pasadena on Wednesday night. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says one person is in custody. (Reed Saxon / AP)
By Stefanie Dazio and John Antczak Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – It has all the hallmarks of an only-in-Los Angeles crime: A thief stole a hearse – with a body inside – then went on a wild ride, ending with a chase and a crash on a busy freeway.

Authorities say they found the body undisturbed inside a casket Thursday morning and took James Juarez into custody after the crash, which closed the 110 Freeway during the morning commute.

The incident began Wednesday night, when the suspected thief stole the black Lincoln Navigator outside St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in East Pasadena. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department pleaded with the thief – whose identity was not known at that point – in a widely shared social media post to return the body.

“Out of all the bad decisions you have made, at least make one good one & bring back the deceased person & casket inside the Navigator,” the department tweeted.

Juarez, 25, was booked Thursday on suspicion of grand theft auto, police said.

Local media have reported the body remained in the vehicle while a mortuary attendant brought another casket into the church – and that’s when the SUV was stolen.

On Thursday morning, a witness reported seeing the SUV and was following it. Los Angeles police officers pursued the hearse on local streets and onto the freeway until it crashed around 7:45 a.m. At least one officer was involved in the crash, though Los Angeles police did not immediately have details about it.

No one was seriously injured, police said.