The Cult of Santa Muerte is Growing in Miami Botanicas

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Even drug lords need a saint to pray to sometimes. The latest deity to hit South Florida's santería market is Santa Muerte, who is known for working quick miracles for seedy crowds.

NBC.com recently covered the saint and visited "El Viejo Lazaro Botanica," a store on West Flagler Street that caters to the Santería religion. This is where owner Nelson Hernandez reportedly first brought the skeletal figurine to Miami and since his introduction in 2009 he's seen an increase in customers from all kinds of nationalities- Russians, Spaniards, Italians and, of course, customers from her native Mexico. But her cult is growing, as the article stated there could be 10 to 12 million worshipers in the U.S. who pray to her for practically anything- a good job, a new house, love- but she's most often sought out by women who believe they're being cheated on, drug traffickers, and other topics you might feel a little bit embarrassed to pray about to the big guy above.
· Growing Devotion to Santa Muerte in U.S. and Abroad [NBC News]