Chatham County Man Says Son's Cremated Remains Were Stolen

Chatham — A Chatham County man says some of his son's cremated remains were stolen out of his checked airport baggage.

Lee Pavao said it happened during a trip back from Orlando. When he arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in late December, he said his bag was unzipped. When he checked inside, electronics and a box with a small amount of his son's ashes were missing.

The family had been spreading the ashes at some of his favorite places. They have filed complaints with Delta Airlines, the Transportation Security Administration and Orlando International Airport.

“We've been taking a lot of time to go through and scatter my brother's ashes, who died suddenly in all of the places he loved. Now it's disheartening to think they are out there somewhere,” daughter Sara Sidders said.

Pavao's son Chris died suddenly of a heart attack. The TSA is investigating, but the family said the other agencies have not responded to their inquiries.