Stolen Tombstones Found in Meth Raid

LOMA LINDA, Calif – LOMA LINDA, Calif.-- Narcotics investigators raiding a Southern California home during a methamphetamine bust found something odd in the backyard -- two dozen granite and marble tombstones, authorities said Wednesday.

The stolen grave markers were traced to the Montecito Memorial Park in Colton, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cynthia Bachman.

The 24 tombstones scattered around the Loma Linda site of Tuesday's drug bust have an estimated value of $48,000, she said. Investigators are looking for family members so the markers can be returned to the proper place in the cemetery.

During Tuesday's 2:47 p.m. raid at the Loma Linda home, deputies from the Central Station Solution Oriented Policing Team, or SOP Team, served a search warrant and arrested John Bleuer, Steve Hansen, Lisa Jackson and Louis Anchelowitz.

Deputies said the suspects were selling methamphetamines from the residence.

They were booked for investigation of methamphetamine possession and sales, possession of firearms and possession of stolen property. The four were expected to be charged and arraigned on Thursday.

While in the backyard, deputies noticed tombstones weighing up to 200 pounds each.

The cemetery, built in 1927, is operated by Houston-based Service Corporation International. A Montecito cemetery receptionist referred callers to the SCI press office, which didn't immediately return telephone messages left Wednesday.

And authorities did not suggest a possible motive.