Crime

Girl finds stolen cremation ashes in Pa. park

By Barry Leibowitz

September 12, 2013 / 8:35 AM EDT / CBS News

This urn once contained ashes that were stolen; a man in Clairton, Pa. says a box that contained his father's ashes was stolen, but later found in a neighborhood park. WCAX

(CBS/AP) CLAIRTON, Pa. - On Monday afternoon, someone stole the cremation ashes of Robert Smith's father from a box in Smith's van, in the crime-ridden Pittsburgh suburb of Clairton.

Seven hours later, a girl found the box containing the man's remains in a neighborhood park.

His son suspects the theft was a case of "mistaken identity."

Robert Smith thinks someone actually mistook his father's ashes for a powdery drug like heroin or cocaine. He says, "You know this is a high drug area. ... It's sad."

Smith says his father, Richard, died in June at age 75. Since then, Smith has kept the remains in a memorial box in the center console of his van.

Smith told CBS Pittsburgh, "He was my best friend that I lost and I just felt like keeping him in the vehicle whenever I'm driving around," adding, "He always liked to go for rides."

Police are investigating the theft.

Smith told CBS Pittsburgh he hopes to personally thank the child who found his father's ashes.