Hearse stolen from church with body inside

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Los Angeles police said a man accused of stealing a hearse containing a casket and body from outside a church is suspected of being mentally ill.

Investigators said police responded Saturday to a report of an older man stealing a hearse from outside Ebenezer Baptist Church while a casket and body were inside. Funeral preparations were taking place inside the church at the time of the theft, police said.

Family and friends attending the funeral followed the hearse in their vehicles and they were able to get the man to pull over after a four-block chase.

Police arrived to find the funeral-goers in a verbal altercation with the accused thief.

The suspect was booked on suspicion of auto theft. Police said the man is suspected of being mentally ill and an evaluation is being carried out.

Shirley Little, wife of the church's pastor, said the incident was unique in the 75-year history of Ebenezer Baptist.

"This is truly one for the books," she told the Los Angeles Times.

Little said the hearse and body were returned to the church, where the funeral continued as planned, albeit with a 30-minute delay.