Daughter's ashes stolen in Ontario vehicle theft: 'They can make it right, still'

Jo-Ann Howell was in Ottawa in late June to prepare for a move to Victoria, B.C.. She said her car was broken into off Bronson Avenue and she discovered after her move that her daughter’s ashes had been stolen.

A Kingston woman is hoping her daughter’s ashes will be returned after her car was broken into while she visited friends in Ottawa.

Jo-Ann Howell, a military veteran and current leadership coach, was briefly visiting Ottawa in June before embarking on a long move to Victoria, B.C. She was staying at a friend’s house near Bronson Avenue, and left her vehicle in the area, carrying inside what she thought was all her valuable possessions.

When she returned to her car on June 23, she discovered the rear driver’s side window had been smashed and it looked as though someone had been sleeping there. She said she didn’t immediately realize anything of value was stolen because she thought she had left only her clothes and books in the vehicle. She had the window repaired and then became occupied with the task of moving across the country.

It wasn’t until two weeks later, when she arrived in Victoria, she discovered two possessions missing from her suitcase; an iPad and one of her most precious belongings — her daughter Jamie Lynn’s ashes.

Howell said upon discovering the ashes missing, she immediately blamed herself.

“My first reaction is that I didn’t keep her safe again,” she said. “I just felt very much that it was my fault… There was this part of me that I let her down.”

Howell said she’s not concerned about the iPad, but is pleading with the person who has the ashes to return them. Jamie Lynn was stillborn at 38 weeks, and Howell said she has been carrying her daughter’s ashes in a box for 10 years. She said she’s recently been in touch with a memorial garden in Victoria, where she hopes to place Jamie Lynn to rest.

Howell said she doesn’t think the person who stole the ashes did so to be malicious.

“They would see a little box, they would’ve opened it up and saw powder,” she said. “I’m thinking in the dark you would’ve thought it’s some other substance.”

Howell is asking people to be on the lookout for the box of ashes, which is plain pine wood, approximately six inches deep, eight inches long and four inches wide, with gold coloured clasp hinges.

Despite having something of such sentimental value stolen from her, Howell said she doesn’t hold any ill will towards the person who took it.

“I would say that I’m not angry, that I understand people come on hard times, but I just want her ashes returned to her family,” she said. “They can make it right still.”

Howell is asking anyone with information to reach out.