Ashes left on beach
Three ash piles were found on White Rock beach Monday.
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Updated: August 20, 2009 3:37 PM
Three piles of ashes believed to be human remains were discovered dumped on West Beach Monday.
Resident Sandy Streifel was picking blackberries west of the boat launch with her husband and two sons when they stumbled across – and into – the ashes around 1:30 p.m. Nearby, they found a tag bearing an ID number and the name of a crematorium.
While Streifel has heard of ashes scattered on beaches as part of a goodbye to a loved one, she is certain the mounds discovered locally were unceremoniously discarded – an act she described as disrespectful of the dead.
“They were obviously very fresh... dry,” said Streifel, who believes the ashes were dumped Sunday night or Monday morning. “It’s so undignified... so thoughtless.”
White Rock RCMP cordoned off the area and collected the piles for evidence. Streifel overheard police say that at least some of the remains belong to a woman who died in 2004.
Contacted Wednesday, officials at the Lower Mainland crematorium would not confirm knowledge of the incident. Police say they are investigating, but would not comment, other than to note “it is an interesting one.”
Streifel worries the remains may not be properly laid to rest.
“It’s a little bit personal when you step in it,” she said. “I don’t know what kind of person that was, it doesn’t matter. She’s already suffered this indignity, so let’s try to make it right.”
Anyone with information can contact police at 604-531-5527.
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