Palo altar w/ stolen human skulls found in heroin raid
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Police found a Palo altar and stolen human remains during an unrelated narcotics investigation. The record does not establish that spiritual belief or authority enabled the drug offense, so the case is retained as context.
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Cited record
Sources
- Sawyer, J. (2016) 'Skulls, Bones Found in Bridgeport Santeria Priest's Apartment', NBC Connecticut, 3 February. Available at: nbcconnecticut.com (Accessed: 14 July 2026).
The same practice surfaces far from the traditional strongholds. In Bridgeport, Connecticut, a Palo altar built from stolen human remains was discovered during a drug raid: police 'arrested Felix 'Cuba' Delgado, 40, as part of a drug investigation' and 'searched Delgado's Hallet Street apartment after receiving information he was selling heroin and prescription pills', finding two human skulls and a long bone 'configured in a 'Palo Mayombe' type alter, which is a sub-culture within the Santeria religion. Delgado is the second Santeria priest in Connecticut accused of stealing human remains in Massachusetts.'
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- https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/skulls-bones-found-in-bridgeport-santeria-priests-apartment/2049580/ Legacy citation preserved without a normalized source tier or evidentiary-role code. SHA-256 2cece4b002f9f1bc91e57e62654a4cfdb9ab80518d1a8b5cc5ea1559a8974a69
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- 2026-07-20 · Preserved
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Related record
Related cases · Cuban Palo Mayombe
- 1989 · Matamoros, Mexico Constanzo cult ritual killings (Palo Mayombe)
- 2007 · Newark, NJ, USA State v. Miraballes — Palo Mayombe grave-robbing
- 2021 · Mount Dora, FL, USA Grave desecration for a Palo Mayombe shrine