Man finds wooden boxes with human remains on Tiki Island

GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A long time Tiki Island homeowner is trying to find relatives of three people whose remains appear to have washed up near the dock behind his property.

"One at a time, a few hours apart," said Joe Morgan, describing how he discovered the small wooden boxes which were floating in the water. Each has a handwritten inscription with a name and the phrase "Rest in Peace."

"I'd like to see them rest somewhere else," said Morgan.

Morgan told ABC13 he called police and an officer pried the boxes open to see what was inside. It appeared to be ashes and a small flower wreath, according to the officer.

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"It was kind of eerie, like that's somebody's human remains. I dropped to my knees and gave a little prayer," Morgan said.

Morgan said police didn't take a report, so he compared the names on the boxes to those in obituaries of a local paper.

Without any matches, Morgan said he called the closest funeral home, and was told it wasn't uncommon for remains to be discarded in waters off the Gulf.

"I don't know if I believe that somebody really dumped that stuff," said neighbor Hilda Slanina.

Morgan swears the discovery is legit and he is intent on finding the families of those whose remains could be in the boxes.

"I don't want them haunting my dock!" Morgan said.

Tiki Island Police have not commented on the incident.

Tiki Island Mayor Goldie Telchick said there is nothing to investigate and there's no reason to be concerned.

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