A woman is devastated after her father’s ashes were stolen during a burglary and says she feels like she’s ‘lost him twice’.
Nigel Hill’s ashes were stolen from a garage in Bury, Greater Manchester, the town where he and his wife had lived – and now his daughter Sarah is worried about what’s happened to them.
She described how all sorts of horrible scenarios are running through her head, including that her father’s ashes have been ‘snorted’ or thrown away.
Mr Hill died in January at the age of 72 and has been described by those who knew him as one of the ‘friendliest, kindest and most hardworking people’.
His ashes were snatched from the garage along with some power tools, and Sarah says the family has been left in ‘complete disbelief’.
She has urged whoever stole the ashes to return them to her mum Susan, who she said ‘doesn’t deserve this’.
Sharing her fears, Sarah said: ‘The worst one is that my dad’s been snorted. That’s the worst thing. Or he’s just been completely discarded or been thrown away somewhere, thrown in the river, just shoved in a dustbin.’
The theft of her father’s ashes feels like ‘losing him twice’, she said, adding the theft has ‘really tainted the memories’ she has of him.
She said she understands why someone hasn’t come forward because her father was a ‘well-known character’ in the area and was ‘held in high regard’.
The thief may also be worried about dropping his ashes off and being found out, she believes.
Sarah continued: ‘People are as heartbroken as we are. A lot of people are quite angry, quite rightly.
‘But it’s been weeks now and the longer it goes on, the longer you go, “We’re never going to get him back.” We’re stuck in limbo really, because you just cannot believe your dad’s been nicked.’
Greater Manchester Police are investigating what happened and following multiple lines of inquiry. They are urging any member of the public with information to come forwards.
PC Rhian Toland said: ‘This behaviour is totally unacceptable and we will work hard to find out the full circumstances and hopefully find the victim’s family ashes so we can return them to her.’
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