Stolen Baby Ashes Found on Beach
A mother said her prayers were answered when a beachgoer found her baby's ashes.
Dec. 16, 2011— -- An infant's cremated remains stolen during a home burglary in Waialua, Hawaii, were found on a beach approximately 10 miles from the mother's home, Honolulu police said today.
"We still have an open case and we're still investigating, but so far nobody's been arrested," said Honolulu police spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter.
Leimomi Kahele was distraught when she discovered her home had been burglarized Wednesday and the robber had made off with the urn containing the ashes of her infant son. Horace Keliiholokai Kahele III, who died when he was five days old in 2004.
The thief had also stolen $600, a DVD player and the only present under Kahele's Christmas tree, The Associated Press reported.
Beachgoers discovered the bag of ashes alongside a photo album Thursday afternoon. The urn, however, was missing.
"There was some documentation with it, so they called police," said Sluyter. "We are thankful the woman was able to get the remains back."
When Kahele found out the ashes had been discovered, she told TV station KHON, her prayers had been answered.
"I feel weight has been lifted off of me," she said. "Everybody makes mistakes. They were in a hurry to grab stuff and they didn't realize what it was, but everything is replaceable but he's not, he's not."
