Urns Containing Man's Remains Stolen From Alameda Church
ALAMEDA (CBS / AP) -- A widow arranging a memorial service for her deceased husband is without his ashes after a thief entered an East Bay church and stole a backpack containing the remains.
Alameda police Lt. Sean Lynch said the wife of Marvin Kent Hockabout left a green Rick Steves backpack containing her husband's ashes unattended for about 5 minutes Saturday afternoon while planning the service at the Christ Episcopal Church.
Lynch said that there were two wooden urns in the bag left in the sanctuary area of the unlocked church.
He said police do not know whether the thief was aware the backpack contained the urns.
No one witnessed the theft, and police said church officials waited hours to report the theft because the family believed the backpack may have been misplaced.
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