SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Police Department confirmed it is being assisted by the San Antonio Regional Intelligence Center, located within Public Safety Headquarters, in its search for the stolen remains of Julie Mott, 25, as well as those responsible.
At a news conference last Friday, SAPD spokesman Sgt. Javier Salazar, and Dick Tips, owner of Mission Park North, as well as her father, Tim Mott, said Julie Mott's body was removed from her casket after her funeral service Aug. 15.
Julie Mott, who died of cystic fibrosis Aug. 8, was to be cremated.
Police said there was no forced entry into the building on Cherry Ridge that was locked up at 4:30 p.m. that day. The discovery that she was gone was made the next morning.
Unwilling to specifically discuss the case, Dr. Camis Milam, executive vice president for medical services at the Center for Health Care Services, did speak generally about why anyone would want to steal a body.
“Individuals have stolen back the body of someone who was very close to them, near to them, because they couldn’t bear that loss,” Milam said.
She said perhaps someone could become fixated on the fact they strongly object to cremation.
“A person could say, ‘I don’t agree with what is being done. I need to take matters in my own hands,’” Milam said.
Speaking as a psychiatrist, Milam said some are so overwhelmed by their grief, “Our brains are not working the normal way that they would.”
Milam said it could reach a point that they may believe they’re acting out of love and respect, yet their sense of right and wrong has been altered.
She said, “They believe they’re doing the right thing even though the rest of society would say, ‘That’s not only wrong, it’s criminal.’”
In Mott’s case, police have said it’s considered a misdemeanor.
There is a $20,000 reward being offered in hopes of finding Mott’s remains and whoever took them. Anyone with information is urged to call, 210-225-TIPS.