Teens admit to removing skull from tomb

Two teenagers were arrested Saturday after breaking open a grave and removing a skull.

The desecration was discovered Saturday as a deputy patrolled Spring Hill Cemetery on Fort Dade Avenue. The secluded, historically black graveyard is private property, but frequently attracts drug users and folks who want to dump their trash.

An unoccupied vehicle parked in the cemetery put the deputy on alert and he started searching for its owners. As he combed the grounds, he came across a concrete tomb that appeared to have been disturbed.

A hole in the tomb's side revealed a decayed coffin and the remains of a man wearing a suit. His skull was missing.

As deputies investigated the crime, two teenagers walked out of the woods, Seth McCarty, 18, and Joel Rivera, 19. They initially claimed to be looking for antique landmarks in the woods, but eventually admitted to having a hand in the vandalism, according to a report.

The suspects told deputies they had been to the cemetery the night before and used a piece of concrete to enlarge the hole in the tomb, a report states. The skull was taken to the home of an associate and placed in a five-gallon bucket of bleach.

Deputies recovered the skull.

Rivera, of 6217 Cartwrite Road, and McCarty, of 33368 Ridge Manor Blvd., were charged with disfiguring a tomb, a felony. Neither could be reached for comment Tuesday.

The cemetery's caretaker was notified and arrangements were made to repair the damage to the grave. Investigators are also trying to determine the identity of the deceased for records and family notification.

Detectives say there is no evidence the grave robbery was linked to the occult.