Coroner to publish unclaimed cremains

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Authorities say it's been difficult to locate relatives to claim the cremated remains of 56 people found at a southwest Ohio house.

The labeled, dated boxes of remains were found last month stored in a closet at a Dayton house co-owned by a former funeral director.

The director of the Montgomery County coroner's office said Tuesday that eight boxes of remains were released to relatives and six or seven releases are pending relatives' calls. He says some distant relatives have indicated they will not pick up remains and want the coroner to handle them.

Authorities have not been able to notify or identify relatives for about 22 individuals. They plan to publish those in the local media in the hope that it will help them find next of kin.