The American Samoa Department of Health’s Environmental Health Services Division is asking the public for help in locating the family of an individual whose ashes have remained unclaimed for nearly five years.
Aileen Solaita, Manager of the Environmental Health Services Division, told KHJ News that an urn with the unclaimed ashes was first brought to their office on December 16, 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The urn is believed to have been in luggage that was pulled by the Department of Homeland Security on suspicion of containing drugs.
No other information to identify the owner of the remains or who the luggage belonged to was provided.
In all this time, no one has come forward to claim the remains. Solaita said she contacted the crematorium that was listed on the urn and discovered it was no longer in existence.
There have been a few calls since the notice was posted on Facebook, however, no one has yet made a claim.
Solaita said because their office is relocating, they want to give the deceased a proper final resting place. If no one claims the ashes by October 5, the department will proceed with burial.
Families who believe the ashes may belong to their loved one are urged to contact the Department of Health at 782-5700.
