Urn sold for scrap reunited with son

EAST ALTON -- A 10-year-old Illinois boy has the ashes of his late father back, weeks after someone sold the tiny heart-shaped urn containing the cremains to a scrap dealer for 55 cents.

Young Dennis Paul Martin Jr. says he found out recently from his aunt that his dad's remains were missing.

After hearing that East Alton police had been given the palm-sized brass urn by a scrap dealer, the boy came forward Wednesday and reclaimed it.

East Alton police Sgt. Eric Staten says the dealer thought the piece was interesting, so he brought it home to his wife, who discovered it contained cremated remains.

Staten says the dealer, who wished to remain anonymous, turned it in to police.

The boy's father, Dennis Martin, died of a heart attack in September 2005.