Vancouver police are asking for help in tracking down the rightful owner of a donated wooden box used to contain cremated human remains.
Officers responded to a found-property call July 30 at the Goodwill thrift store, 6425 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd.
An employee going through donations located the box with the name Stephu Rutledge on the bottom, according to a news release from the Vancouver Police Department.
Police said they believe the wooden box was inadvertently donated.
Later, police found the name was actually Steven Rutledge, the person who made the box, but still had not found an owner.
The police department’s evidence unit has been trying to locate anyone associated with the box but has been unsuccessful. It’s now asking the public for help, and anyone with information should contact the unit at 360-487-7404.
Employees at the same Goodwill found another box of cremated remains among donated items earlier this year, and it was eventually returned to family.
Reporter Andy Matarrese contributed to this report.
