A 60-year-old New York man is facing two felony counts after Titusville police say he vandalized hearses at two separate funeral homes overnight, leaving staff scrambling to repair the vehicles in time for services scheduled the very next day. John Dietsch surrendered without incident at a nearby motel room after officers tracked down his out-of-state SUV, according to police.
The vandalism began overnight on August 6, when staff at North Brevard Funeral Home on Norwood Avenue discovered three damaged vehicles, and officers found that hearse tires had also been slashed at Lewis-Ray Mortuary on South Hopkins Avenue, according to Talk of Titusville. All four hearse tires were slashed at Lewis-Ray Mortuary alone. Surveillance video reviewed by investigators showed a man slashing a hearse's tires, smashing a hearse window, and scratching a hearse's paint, according to FOX 35 Orlando.
A Warning Voicemail Before the Axe Came Out
Before returning to inflict a second wave of damage with an axe, Dietsch left a voicemail on North Brevard Funeral Home's answering service, identifying himself by name and telling the business to “stand down,” per the same account from Talk of Titusville. Titusville Police Sgt. Lauren Watson described the case as unusual, per FOX 35 Orlando. Watson also said the funeral homes had to quickly restore the hearses for services scheduled the following day, underscoring how narrow the window was for staff to make repairs.
Both North Brevard Funeral Home and Lewis-Ray Mortuary declined requests to speak on camera, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Titusville police have not disclosed a possible motive, and the outlet reports that Dietsch has no publicly disclosed connection to either funeral home. Investigators have likewise not explained why the funeral homes and their hearses were specifically targeted.
Tracked by License Plate Cameras to a Nearby Motel
Titusville Police used Flock Safety automated license plate reader technology positioned on municipal roadways to identify and track Dietsch's New York-registered dark SUV, the report from Talk of Titusville notes. That surveillance technology led officers to Room 19 at the Three Oaks Motel on South Hopkins Avenue, where Dietsch was arrested at approximately 11:27 a.m. on August 7 and surrendered without incident. The motel sits along the same corridor as Lewis-Ray Mortuary, with the two targeted funeral homes located roughly 2.5 miles apart along Norwood and Hopkins avenues, according to Space Coast Daily.
Officers also found an axe in Dietsch's vehicle, FOX 35 Orlando reports. While law enforcement records list Dietsch as a current resident of Ravena, New York, Titusville Police confirmed that he maintains long-standing prior personal ties to the local area, according to Space Coast Daily.
Prior Case Involving a Disabled Adult's Death
Dietsch has a previous criminal history in Titusville. In February 2022, he was arrested and charged with felony abuse of a disabled adult after police conducting a welfare check found a deceased disabled man in advanced decomposition inside a home where Dietsch had served as the sole caregiver, according to reporting at the time from ClickOrlando.
The Titusville Police Department's arrest affidavit estimates total property damage from this month's vandalism at more than $3,500 across both funeral home locations, per Talk of Titusville. FOX 35 Orlando separately reported the damage in the thousands of dollars. Dietsch was booked into the Brevard County Detention Center in Sharpes and held on $10,000 bond following his arrest.
Felony Charges Carry Up to Five Years Per Count
Dietsch faces two counts of felony criminal mischief, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Under Florida Statute § 806.13, criminal mischief causing property damage of $1,000 or more, or causing impairment to business operations, is classified as a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine per count, according to the Florida Senate.
Titusville police used surveillance footage to identify Dietsch as a suspect and have asked anyone with additional information to contact Crimeline anonymously. Officials have described the incident as isolated and targeted rather than a broader threat to public safety, even as the motive behind the attacks on both funeral homes remains unexplained.
