MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Thief steals wife’s ashes from car in Phinney Ridge

May 8, 2012, 6:39 PM | Updated: 7:44 pm

The small, green biodegradable urn is shaped like a pillow encircled with a white band of pressed f...

The small, green biodegradable urn is shaped like a pillow encircled with a white band of pressed floral paper. (Image courtesy http://www.urngarden.com)

(Image courtesy http://www.urngarden.com)

When a thief smashed the back window of a car parked in Seattle’s Phinney Ridge neighborhood and stole a backpack, he likely had no idea the grief he caused.

Inside was a green urn with the ashes of Mark Matson’s wife, Michelle. The San Diego man was about to start out on a camping trip to the Cascades

“Before she passed away, we discussed what we were going to do with her ashes, and she decided that she wanted me to spread them in some lakes she’d seen on the Pacific Crest Trail,” Matson said.

Matson called police but he’s hoping the thief discarded the urn and maybe a neighbor will spot it and contact him.

The small, green biodegradable urn is shaped like a pillow encircled with a white band of pressed floral paper.

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Thief steals wife’s ashes from car in Phinney Ridge