Police find backyard altar with human bones

Police officers searching for drugs at a Southern California home instead found a backyard altar adorned with a human skull and other bones last weekend.

The Pasadena Star-News reports that the altar included statues of Santa Muerte and Jesus Malverde, both of which are often associated with the drug trade. A resident of the home told police she practices the Caribbean religion of Santeria.

Pasadena police Lt. Tracey Ibarra says police plan to run a DNA database check in case the bones belong to a missing person or were involved in a criminal case.

Chicken and goat bones were also found at the altar.

Human bones can be legally obtained. No drugs were found in the search and no charges have been filed.

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