Los Angeles, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – A man allegedly stole a hearse that contained a casket during a funeral in South Park Saturday morning, according to Los Angeles Police Department officials.

The hearse was stolen from the Ebenezer Baptist Church, located at 4901 Avalon Blvd. in South L.A., pictured, on Dec. 27, 2014.

Witnesses said an older man climbed into the unoccupied hearse and drove off. The vehicle’s motor was running before he entered it. Funeral attendees then followed the hearse, managed to get the man to pull over, and eventually recovered the funeral car and casket. The car thief was apprehended by L.A. police.

Appearing before a judge on Monday, the carjacking suspect pleaded not guilty to auto theft, saying it was never his intention to steal the funeral car.

He, however, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge: stealing a casket.

Because the casket contained a human body at the time of the theft, prosecutors are preparing a new charge: kidnapping.

Only in L.A.!