Mausoleum Burglar Caused $50K In Damage: Baltimore County Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Authorities say a man burglarized a Baltimore County mausoleum, causing approximately $50,000 in damage. He is accused of vandalizing marble vaults that contained human remains, stealing jewelry from display cases and spraying the fire extinguisher around the mausoleum at Gardens of Faith Memorial Gardens, among other offenses.

Emanuel Eric Padilla, 22, of no fixed address, is charged with malicious destruction of property, removing human remains and other offenses.

Charges came after the manager of Gardens of Faith Memorial Gardens in the 5500 block of Trumps Mill Road called police at 2:20 p.m. Thursday to report a man had shattered display cases.

Responding officers found Padilla on Kenwood Avenue, where he ran after police allege he broke the display case, destroyed urns containing ashes, took jewelry from the display and used a fire extinguisher to destroy several tombstone vaults where human remains were housed and then sprayed it around the mausoleum.

Authorities said Padilla had memorabilia and jewelry on him when he was arrested. Investigators estimated the cost of the theft and destruction of property at the mausoleum totaled over $50,000.

Padilla has been charged with the following offenses, court records show:

• Three counts of malicious destruction of property greater than $1,000
• Theft less than $100
• Second-degree burglary
• Fourth degree burglary
• Theft from $1,500 to $25,000
• Removing human remains
• Two counts of destroying a funerary object

Police arrested Padilla Thursday. He has a bail review hearing set for Monday in Baltimore County District Court.

Investigators say they are working to identify the victims whose property was stolen and will return items to the impacted families as soon as possible.