Man gets jail for stealing, snorting ashes

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SILVER SPRINGS SHORES, Fla., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- One of three men accused of stealing, then snorting human and canine ashes in Florida, was sentenced to more than eight years in prison.

Jose David Diaz-Marrero, 20, pleaded guilty in June to four burglaries, including one in which he and two others stole urns, that contained the cremated remains of Holli Tencza's father and her two dogs, the Ocala (Fla.) Star Banner reported.

The trio also allegedly stole about $1,500 worth of jewelry, a laptop, a DVD player and a 42-inch flat-screen television.

When questioned by detectives, the suspects said they thought the urns contained crushed pills and decided to taste and snort the contents.

Later, they realized they snorted were the remains of a woman's father and her two dogs.

"I recognize that I've made a big mistake," said Diaz-Marrero, who was sentenced Friday.

"I wish the victims were here so that I could tell them how sorry I am," he said.

Along with serving 8 years in prison, Diaz-Marrero was sentenced to six years probation, and to pay more than $20,000 in restitution to the victims in the cases.

One of Diaz-Marrero's accomplices, Matrix Andaluz, 19, pleaded guilty in June to the burglaries and was sentenced to nine years in prison and 12 years of probation.

The other suspect, Waldo Soroa, 21, still has a pending case.