Nanaimo Mounties are crediting media coverage for reuniting a deceased man’s ashes with his family.
The cremated remains of Donald Simpson were claimed after a Nanaimo resident viewed a recent TV newscast featuring a story about the remains and contacted Simpson’s widow.
The ashes were discovered along Nanaimo River Road near the power lines in May, but in August police turned to the public for help finding Simpson’s relatives after they had been unable to locate any next of kin.
Simpson’s wife moved to Ontario from Nanaimo shortly after the death of her husband in 2004.
Police do not know how or why the cremated remains ended up where they were found, but said they could have been stolen with other items in a moving carton or that the carton inadvertently left behind and the container of ashes ultimately wound up being discarded.
Police said the ashes have been couriered to the woman and she is grateful that her husband’s remains have been returned to her.
