75-foot 'Saint Death' irks Mexican town

Santa Maria Cuautepec -- Officials in a small Mexican town so far aren't doing much about a 75-foot-tall statue of a shrouded skeleton that has become a draw for religious pilgrims.

The statue of Santa Muerte (Saint Death) in Santa Maria Cuautepec has been ordered taken down due to zoning violations. However, the Chicago Tribune Tuesday said the order had not been enforced.

The newspaper said people have been coming in a steady stream to burn candles and leave offerings of fruit, cigarettes and tequila at the shrine.

The statue was built at a small temple run by a young man known as Godfather Endoque. The Tribune said he warned of trouble of the town tries to demolish his skeleton.

At the same time, however, say the statue is upsetting to many residents, violates height restrictions and is causing parking issues.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.