Corpse of Texas cystic fibrosis sufferer Julie Mott stolen from funeral home

Police believe the remains of Julie Mott, a 25-year-old Texas woman, which went missing after her funeral service may have been stolen. Julie Mott died as a result of cystic fibrosis on 8 August, and her funeral was held at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North, San Antonio, on 15 August.

"It is believed that in the hours after the funeral service, someone came into the funeral home and stole her remains," San Antonio police said. "There wasn't any forced entry to the facility," Sergeant Javier Salazar told CNN affiliate KSAT. "So what it's believed is between the hours of 1.30pm, when the service ended, to about 4.30pm, when they locked up for the evening, someone came in and stole Ms Mott's remains. That person remains at large."

Ms Mott's remains were removed from her casket. The reasons for the theft are a mystery.

Mott's family asked anyone with relevant information to get in touch with police. "We just want our daughter's remains returned so we can have some closure to our grief," Tim Mott told the station.

Mortuary owner Robert Tips, who called the Mott family close friends, said that the family had planned to have Ms Mott's remains cremated. The funeral home is offering a $20,000 (£13,000) for information leading to the return of the remains.