Man Charged For Stealing Urns, Dumping Ashes

Alan R. Smith, Jr.

Hamilton County Sheriff's Office

(Cincinnati, Oh.) - A Harrison man is accused of stealing 20 urns from his former employer, sometimes dumping out the human ashes inside.

 

Alan R. Smith, Jr. was fired last month from the Hillside Chapel and Cincinnati Cremation Company in Cincinnati, the Enquirer reports.

 

Investigators allege after his firing, he took the bronze urns valued at $1,200 a piece, an air conditioning unit, and copper wiring. The stolen items were then sold as scrap.

 

Smith is charged with theft, vandalism and desecration. More charges could be filed against him soon, investigators said.

 

The dumped ashes - those of people who died in the 1960s and 1970s - were contained in bags marked for identification. They will be returned to new urns.

 

Hillside Chapel is working to notify the families whose loved ones remains were disturbed.

 

Smith will be arraigned in Hamilton County Municipal Court at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday.

 

More from Local News

Events

Two Pools of Mosquitos Tested Positive for West Nile Virus in Ohio County

No human cases of West Nile Virus have been detected in Ohio County.

2027 DCF Scholarship Applications Now Available for High School Seniors

Scholarships are available for students at five area high schools.

Garbage Truck Fire Reported at Milan High School

This is the second fire of this type within two months at the same location.

High School Baseball Fields Light up Across Indiana to Honor Late Jennings Co. Coach

The show of support to the Sigler family and Jennings County community was strong on Thursday night.

Local Sports Report - September 17, 2026

Report missing stats and scores to news@eaglecountryonline.com

Switz. Co. Kicker Nails Record Long Field Goal, Earns MIFC Weekly Honors

See other top performers in the MIFC for Week 4

On Air

Travis Tritt It's A Great Day to Be Alive 1:21
Florida Georgia Line Simple 1:18
Janie Fricke She's Single Again 1:15
Keith Urban Without You 1:10