WESTLAND, Mich. – An urn that was stolen Saturday in Westland has been returned to the memorial site.
A Westland family was shocked to discover their son’s urn was stolen Saturday from the Cadillac Memorial Gardens Cemetery, but it’s what was left behind that added insult to injury.
ORIGINAL STORY: Urn, ashes stolen from cemetery in Westland
Timmy Owens was 26 when he died in 2014. Owens' cousin had just paid respects to her parents and was driving back when she spotted the memorial bench and realized something was wrong.
"She noticed the top was twisted, and backwards," said Owens' sister Jill Barbie. "There’s some writing on the front. She didn’t see that."
The family investigated, and when they lifted the bench, they discovered the urn was gone.
"For us, it’s like he’s died twice." Barbie said. "My mom was sobbing uncontrollably and my dad was just angry at everybody."
The family was feeling emotional, and that was before they found a Tupperware container filled with drug paraphernalia had been left behind.
"It’s like a big slap in the face," Barbie said. "I think it’s super personal."
Owens died in 2014 after overdosing on heroin laced with fentanyl.
"He was a good kid," Barbie said. "He couldn’t find that clear path for himself. It was either, like, they’re getting back at us or maybe they’re saying, ‘We made a pact and do this with our ashes,’ but why four years later?"
The Owens family has been comforted by the bench in the past as they grieved for their family member.
"Literally, the only thing my mom wants is her child back," said Charlena Owens. "She’s empty without him. He was a really good kid, loved his family and he needs to be back with us."