Gulf Shores Detectives Solve Mystery of Urn Which Washed Ashore

News Staff • April 29, 2025

Small disk inside the container helps trace urn origination

Gulf Shores Urn News

A decorated urn containing human ashes washed up on Gulf Shores beach this past week, starting a mystery that local police have now solved. The container was discovered by people walking along the shore on West Beach on April 17.


The urn had no name or identification on the outside. This made it hard for investigators to figure out who it belonged to. But their search took a turn when they looked inside the container.


RELATED STORY:  Mystery Urn Washes Ashore In Gulf Shores


Detectives found a small disk hidden among the ashes. This tiny clue led them to a crematory in Ohio. The crematory had records that helped police identify the deceased person and contact their family.


The family told police they were honoring their loved one's final wish. Just two days before the urn was found, a family member had released it into the Gulf of Mexico from Gulf State Park Pier.


Instead of sinking, the urn floated and eventually washed ashore about 3.5 miles west of where it was released. The family was surprised but thankful to get it back.


  • gulf shores news

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • news in gulf shores

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • port at zekes

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • saunders marine gulf shores

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • yabbas snack shack

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • freedom boat club orange beach

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • buzzcatz coffee

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Recent Posts

visions of Christmas orange beach

Christmas Variety Show Returns To Orange Beach

By Ken Cooper • October 30, 2025
The popular Visions of Christmas variety show is coming back to the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center for its fifth season. The community holiday production promises to bring entertainment and seasonal cheer to audiences of all ages.
end of daylight savings

Sleep In An Extra Hour This Sunday

By Gulf Shores News Staff • October 30, 2025
Daylight Saving Time will end this Sunday, giving residents across most of the United States an extra hour of sleep. Clocks will fall back one hour at 2:00 a.m., marking the return to standard time. The change means earlier sunsets and darker evenings for the coming months.
Flora Bama Makes Southern Livings Best Dive Bar List

Flora-Bama Makes Southern Living's "Legendary Dive Bars of the South" List

By Gulf Shores News Staff • October 29, 2025
Have you ever heard of the Nowhere Bar in Athens, Georgia? Maybe you have driven by the No Name Pub in Pine Key, Florida. The Editors of Southern Living magazine picked their favorite southern dive bars and the legendary Flora-Bama made the list.
Show More