Police charge man accused of stealing urn containing baby’s ashes from Ancaster cemetery

Hamilton Police have arrested a suspect following the alleged theft of a child’s urn from a mausoleum.

On Nov. 2 the victim went to Resurrection Cemetery in Ancaster to visit his infant daughter, who had passed away in recent months.

Upon entering the mausoleum, he discovered that his daughter’s urn, which contained her ashes, had been stolen.

Detectives reviewed CCTV footage from the cemetery and immediately began a thorough investigation.

Police say the suspect captured on camera committing the theft was Kevin Wintonyk, a 37-year-old man of no fixed address.

Wintonyk is known to police and has a history of similar cemetery-theft offences.

READ MORE: OPP investigate after body found in Port Rowan home

On Tuesday, investigators located Wintonyk in Niagara Falls, where he was arrested without incident.

The stolen urn was recovered, along with several other items believed to have been taken from additional gravesites.

Wintonyk faces multiple charges including indignity to human remains.

He is currently in custody pending a bail hearing.

Officers say they were relieved to reunite the victim’s family with their loved one’s remains.

READ MORE: Police searching for suspects in St. Catharines church mischief

Investigators are asking anyone who believes their loved one’s gravesite may have been targeted or who has information regarding similar incidents to contact police at 905-546-4772.

Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.crimestoppershamilton.com