Man gets wife's ashes back after theft

NEWBORN, Ga., May 20 (UPI) -- A Georgia man is still missing jewelry and hunting rifles stolen last weekend, but is overjoyed to have his wife's ashes back, his family says.

James Dailey's home in Newborn, southeast of Atlanta, was burglarized Sunday. Among the items stolen was an urn containing the ashes of his wife Bonnie Jeaniece Dailey, who died in 2007. They had been married for 60 years.

"He was just in tears, crying. He had no hope at all," granddaughter Renee Hunt told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The urn was found by inmates working at a landfill as it tumbled out of a larger box after Dailey had publicly appealed for its return.

Jasper County authorities called the family Wednesday for photos of the box, Hunt said, and she sent one by text message. The photos matched the box, and information found inside matched the death certificate and other records.

Hunt said the box had been broken and was cast aside with the ashes still inside after a wedding band and watch were removed.

Bonnie Dailey was hospitalized after a mild stroke, and a biopsy found acute leukemia. The family was told she had six to eight months, but she died 29 days later.