Burnsville Woman Missing Husband's Urn, Ashes After Burglary

Patricia Eriksen lost more than possessions when burglars ransacked her Burnsville home earlier this month. She also lost the last memento from her late husband - his urn and ashes. 

“It’s more devastating that I thought it would be," said Eriksen, 58. "It’s the last memory of him. I’m just used to having his ashes with me."

Eriksen's husband, David, died on Feb. 6, 2010 from esophageal cancer. She now takes vacations during the anniversary of his death to cope with the loss, Eriksen said.

On Feb. 11 - the day of the burglary - Eriksen took a vacation to Florida.

She left her home on the 1200 block of Echo Drive unlocked for her nephew, who is her roommate, to come home later. The house was burglarized by the time he arrived.

Police responded to the burglary at about 7 p.m. that day, said a police spokesman.

Eriksen immediately asked if her husband's pewter urn was missing. It was. The burglar also took a laptop computer, ruby and emerald rings and a 4-gallon canister of coins.

She later noticed that her dog's urn and ashes also were missing.

Eriksen said it was her husband's missing ashes that she mourned for the most. The couple had been married for 36 years.

“I was pretty devastated," she said. “It should just be a material thing. It’s not his spirit, but it’s still the last piece I had of him.”

Eriksen has looked for the urn at local pawnshops and on Craigslist and eBay. Now, she's offering a $1,000 reward for the return of her husband's urn and ashes.

The urn is silver-colored and has a car racing emblem with a steering wheel, checkered flags and a helmet. The urn has four screws on the bottom. It is not labeled.

Burnsville police said they don't have any suspect leads and need help from the public

Eriksen is asking for anyone with information about the urn to call her at (651) 249-9163.

Photos contributed by Patricia Eriksen.

 

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