Police Chase After Body Falls From Mortuary Van Stolen From Cemetery

Police in Georgia are searching for a suspect who stole a mortuary van with a dead body still in the back.

The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Kijon Griffin, of Atlanta, is alleged to have stolen the vehicle as it was parked outside a crematory on August 25.

As the van drove away, the body which had been placed on a gurney rolled out of the open back hatch of the van and into the parking lot.

The Conyers Police Department said people came to retrieve the body after it came to a stop.

"Unfortunately there was a body on the gurney inside and when the suspect did take off the gurney rolled out of the van, it did end up in the parking lot, at least thankfully it didn't go out into the road," Conyers Police Captain Kim Lucas told FOX 5 News.

Officers from the Conyers Police Police Department gave chase to the van, with the pursuit spanning from the city of Conyers to DeKalb County.

Police said the suspect went on to hit multiple vehicles while fleeing from police just before Wesley Chapel Road on I-20 westbound.

"Our suspect did strike a couple of vehicles, ultimately he hit a trailer and blew a tire," Lucas added.

After blowing out one of the van's tires, police said Griffin got out of the vehicle and fled on foot north of the interstate into the wood line between Panola Road and Wesley Chapel.

Despite setting up a perimeter of the surrounding area, the suspect was not found during a search involving DeKalb County Police Department, DKPD K-9s, Georgia State Patrol and a HERO unit.

As reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Griffin is wanted on suspicion of a number of charges including motor vehicle theft and fleeing and attempting to elude police.

He is also wanted on a prior warrant for violating his probation, and is suspected of multiple car break-ins across Conyers.

The van that was stolen belongs to the Stan Henderson & Sons mortuary in Stockbridge.

After being made aware of the theft with the body still inside, Stan Henderson told Fox 5: "It's ridiculous that the dead can't even rest."

If you have any information as to the suspect's whereabouts, you may contact Crime Stoppers @crimestoppersatlanta 404 577-TIPS anonymously and will be eligible for a cash reward.

The Conyers Police Police Department has been contacted for an update on the investigation.