Human remains stolen while family was on vacation in Michigan

A family’s annual holiday trip to Frankenmuth took a heartbreaking turn after their car was broken into, resulting in the theft of several items, including a deeply sentimental possession: the cremated remains of a loved one.

The family, who visits Splash Village and Bronner’s in Frankenmuth every Christmas, was staying at the Frankenmuth Hotel when they discovered the break-in. Among the stolen items was a black rectangular box resembling a thick book, containing the ashes of the woman’s brother-in-law.

“We’re not worried about the material things that were taken,” she said. “We just want his ashes returned. They meant so much to us.”