Priest Status Revoked from Man Who Allegedly Stole Bodies from Massachusetts Cemetery

The Hartford, CT, man who is accused of stealing the remains of three adults and two children from a Worcester, MA, cemetery has had his priest status revoked, reports the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

Amador Medina, 32, of Hartford, is facing larceny charges after authorities charge that he stole the bodies from Hope Cemetery to use in a religious ritual.

Medina was a priest of Santeria, which, according to the BBC, means “Way of Saints” and is an Afro-Caribbean religion that grew out of the slave trade in Cuba. It is based on Yoruba beliefs with touches of Roman Catholicism.

The Cultural Association of African Religions Babalú Aye told the Telegram that his membership was canceled for “violating several points of the terms and conditions agreement that he signed to conserve his affiliation” and added that he “disgraced the institution of Babalu Aye.”

Medina was charged with five counts of disinterment of bodies, accessory before the fact and conspiracy to commit a crime.