Mystery of abandoned human ashes with flag baffles police

This Thursday, May 5, 2016 photo, provided by the Florala Police Department, shows a box and a flag sitting on a table after a south Alabama police chief says a power line crew found the abandoned small pine box with a rusted lock and an American flag. The police chief says he has a few leads but still no answers to explain how a box of human ashes was found beside a highway near the Florida line. (Florala Police Department, via AP) (The Associated Press)

This Thursday, May 5, 2016 photo, provided by the Florala Police Department, shows a box with human remains sitting on a table after a south Alabama police chief says a power line crew found the abandoned small pine box with a rusted lock and an American flag. The police chief says he has a few leads but still no answers to explain how a box of human ashes was found beside a highway near the Florida line. (Florala Police Department via AP) (The Associated Press)

ATLANTA – A south Alabama police chief says he has a few leads but still no answers to explain how a box of human ashes was abandoned, along with a neatly folded, framed American flag, beside a highway near the Florida line.

A power line crew found the small pine box with a rusted lock in grass along the road about four weeks ago. News of the find was published last week.

Florala Police Chief Sonny Bedsole said Tuesday he's had inquiries from at least four people, including a Tennessee man who said his father's remains and a flag were stolen from his truck a few months ago.

Bedsole said he's emailed photos of the box and flag — folded military-style — to those who inquired and is waiting to hear back.

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