The gruesome discovery of human and animal bones at a Slidell home is being linked to a 31-year-old suspect, who is facing charges of cremating human remains, opening graves and unlawful disposal, police said Thursday.Acting on a tip from a concern citizen, Slidell police executed a search warrant Tuesday in the 200 block of Woodcrest Drive where they discovered human skulls and bones, animal bones, and dried blood within a large bowl surrounded by candles and other ritualistic materials."To say this is disturbing, is truly an understatement and very unusual for our community," said Slidell Police Chief Randy Smith.Slidell police officers said they are searching for Joshua Roque, who's believed to have sacrificed animals and used their blood in a ritualistic manner.The St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office tested the remains and determined that about a dozen were human, while the others appear to have come from a dog and other animals.Police believe the human remains came from a grave and are not linked to a homicide.Officials are working hard to identify the human remains.Police said Roques fled before police arrived to conduct their search.Roques faces multiple charges, including interring or cremating human remains, unlawful disposal of remains, opening graves, stealing body, mutilating, disinterring human remains and drug charges.Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Slidell Police Department at 985-643-3131 or Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111.

The gruesome discovery of human and animal bones at a Slidell home is being linked to a 31-year-old suspect, who is facing charges of cremating human remains, opening graves and unlawful disposal, police said Thursday.

Acting on a tip from a concern citizen, Slidell police executed a search warrant Tuesday in the 200 block of Woodcrest Drive where they discovered human skulls and bones, animal bones, and dried blood within a large bowl surrounded by candles and other ritualistic materials.


"To say this is disturbing, is truly an understatement and very unusual for our community," said Slidell Police Chief Randy Smith.

Slidell police officers said they are searching for Joshua Roque, who's believed to have sacrificed animals and used their blood in a ritualistic manner.

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office tested the remains and determined that about a dozen were human, while the others appear to have come from a dog and other animals.

Police believe the human remains came from a grave and are not linked to a homicide.

Officials are working hard to identify the human remains.

Police said Roques fled before police arrived to conduct their search.

Roques faces multiple charges, including interring or cremating human remains, unlawful disposal of remains, opening graves, stealing body, mutilating, disinterring human remains and drug charges.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Slidell Police Department at 985-643-3131 or Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111.