Police Puzzled by Discovery of Possible Cremation Ashes

NEWPORT BEACH —  Two boxes that may contain cremated ashes have been found and police are calling local mortuaries in an effort to find the owners.

“Obviously, we’re puzzled,” said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Andy Gonis, adding that the boxes have no markings.

The boxes were found Wednesday on East Bay Avenue within a block of each other. Gonis said gray powder, resembling ashes from a cremation, was found in clear plastic bags inside the small boxes.

“One possibility is it’s a prank. Another is it’s removed from a home,” Gonis said. “Then again, maybe they’ve been stolen from somewhere.”

The first box, maroon and about the size of a cigar box, was found on a scale in the Balboa Fun Zone at 2:30 p.m. The second, made of pine, was found at 4 p.m. the same day but not turned into police until Thursday.

Gonis said the powder’s texture, along with the way it was packaged and boxed, is indicative of cremated ashes.

Police are calling local mortuaries, hoping they can determine where the ashes came from. If that proves futile, the Orange County crime lab will test the substance, Gonis said.