2 Florida men arrested for desecrating graves, stealing human remains
POLK COUNTY, FL (WFOR) Two Florida men are now in jail for allegedly desecrating graves and stealing human remains, three of which belong to military veterans.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, a positive DNA hit from a smoked cigar left behind during the crimes, positively identified the first suspect as Brian Montalvo Tolentino, 43 of Davenport, Florida. He identified his accomplice, Juan Burgos-Lopez, 39, of Lake Wales, Florida, according to police.
The thefts took place on December 6, 2020, from four graves at the Edgewood Cemetery in Mount Dora.
When Polk County detectives served a search warrant at Burgos-Lopez’s home, they found a shed with a religious shrine, and seven skulls, four of which both suspects admitted to taking from graves in Mount Dora. Two other skulls were determined to be fake, and the investigation is ongoing as to the identity of the last skull.
Polk County Sheriff s deputies arrested Brian Tolentino and Juan Burgos-Lopez on charges that they desecrated graves and stole remains of veterans from Florida graveyard to use in religious rituals.