Mortician Guilty of Abusing Body

A Florida jury Friday found a former funeral home director guilty of abusing a human body after she cut the hand from a corpse as part of a voodoo ritual.

The Manatee County Circuit Court jury of three men and three women convicted Paula Albritton, 45, after a three-day trial.

Her son, Jimmie Clark, 23, pleaded no contest to the same charge last year and is serving a one-year sentence.

The left hand of Willie Suttle was found on the bank of the Manatee River in November 1997 and was identified by fingerprints. When his body was exhumed, dolls and notes were found in his coffin. Albritton’s funeral home handled Suttle’s burial.

Prosecutors showed the jury a taped confession made by Albritton last year in which she said she performed the rituals to protect her business.

But Albritton testified Thursday that she lied in the confession to protect her son, who she said was mentally ill.

Clark testified that he had cut off Suttle’s hand because voices in his head had told him to, and said his mother had nothing to do with it.

Albritton was allowed to remain free on bail until sentencing next month. Prosecutors asked that she be sent to jail for one year.

Albritton’s attorney said he will appeal the verdict..