Two Men Accused Of Stealing Vases From Cemetery

Instead of paying respects, two El Paso men are accused of disrespecting gravesites ? stealing vases from a cemetery west of Las Cruces.

Juan Torres, 33, and Alberto Torres, 29, now each face charges for larceny and 66 counts of disturbing a marked burial ground.

Thousands of loved ones are buried at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. While most come to visit and place flowers on gravesites, investigators said, they caught the Torres? stealing from the dead Monday night.

“It was just heart breaking,? Julie Salas, who had a vase stolen from her parents? gravesite, said.

Salas said when she went to place a bouquet of flowers on her parents? gravesite for their anniversary, all she found was an empty hole.

“My parents? vase was gone,? Salas said. ?Then I looked around and there was lots of them that were missing in the same area.”

And the Misquez gravesite is not the only one with a bare spot. Solid bronze vases, weighing 8 pounds each, are missing from more than 300 cemetery plots at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. The cemetery manager said the hundreds of vases have been stolen within the past two weeks, including more than 60 from Monday night.

“Who could be so heartless to do something like that,” Salas said.

Juan and Alberto Torres are accused of stealing more than $29,000 worth of vases. Dona Ana County Sheriff?s Investigators said the men allegedly planned to sell the vases, valued at $450 a piece, for only $2 each to an unidentified buyer in Anthony, Texas.

?It?s one of those kind of crimes that really hits you home emotionally because it’s someone you love,” Lieutenant Michael Kinney, DASO, said.

And the same person allegedly stealing from Hillcrest Cemetery, also works for one, investigators said. Alberto?s shirt identified him as an Evergreen Cemetery employee in south central El Paso, investigators said.

“It’s very possible that because he was wearing a work shirt, it was a way to make it look like he belonged there.?

Salas said she will pay to replace her parents? vase, but said, she also holds Hillcrest Cemetery partly responsible.

“I think they need more security, more lights, more people around,? Salas said.

But Salas said, the emotional pain is worst of all.

?Just heartless people,? Salas said. ?I mean, why would they do something to the loved ones that are there.”

The manager at Hillcrest said, for those who have had a vase stolen, the manufacturer will provide discounts for replacements.

There is also an ongoing investigation into hundreds of vases stolen from Memory Gardens in Santa Teresa, where more than 700 vases were taken back in October.

Investigators said it is too early to know if the Torres? are linked to those or any other cemetery thefts.