Jacksonville family relieved late mother's ashes have been returned

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville family is relieved the ashes of their late mother have been returned.

A son had to grieve twice. First, his mother died of cancer last year. Then, someone stole her ashes. Thursday night, he had his mother back.

"When I got the call that she was returned in I almost fell to the floor," said Anthony Luciano.

"I don't want to say I was losing hope, but I was starting to almost get there," he said,

For nearly two weeks, Luciano had no idea if he was ever going to get back his mother's ashes, after his home was broken into.

On Monday, Action News Jax told you Amy Ramos, 48, was arrested after officers found several of Luciano's belongings in her motel room, about 13 miles away. But, his mother's remains weren't found.

We still don't know a motive; why would anyone steal someone's ashes? But this family is just glad those ashes are now home.

"Just happy that she's finally home with us," he said.

Luciano said a detective told them a friend of Ramos dropped the ashes off at the leasing office where they lived.