Possible cremated human remains left in front of West Valley City fire station, police say

Jul 29, 2025, 4:00 PM

The brown box that was found by the West Valley Fire Department on Monday, July 29, 2025. (The West Valley City Police Department)

(The West Valley City Police Department)

BY MICHAEL HOUCK

Digital Content Producer

WEST VALLEY CITY — What appears to be cremated human remains were left in front of a West Valley City fire station on Monday, and police are searching for the owners.

The West Valley City Police Department said the human remains were in a brown box outside the fire station located at 5372 West Upper Ridge Road. The brown box had “Stevens, John” written on it.

West Valley City’s spokeswoman, Roxeanne Vainuku, told KSL that someone dropped the ashes off at the fire station because they found them and were not sure what to do with them.

Vainuku said the fire station didn’t know what to do with the remains and gave them to police.

Police do not know how the person found the remains and believe the remains were found outside.

WVCPD has the remains, and if anyone has information about them, police are asking you to call 801-840-4000.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Utah

Debbie Worthen, KSL

Smoke blankets Utah, prompting air quality concerns across the state

Smoke from wildfires is creating potentially dangerous air quality conditions across Utah. It's prompting health officials to urge residents to take precautions.

37 minutes ago

Firefighters respond to an apartment fire at 942 E. North Union Ave. near Hillcrest High School in ...

Daniel Woodruff, KSL

No timeline yet for tenants to return to Midvale apartment complex

As tenants of the burned North Union Apartments wait to get back inside to try to salvage their belongings, Midvale officials said there's currently no timeline for that to happen.

48 minutes ago

Utah has not had any recalled products connected to cyclosporiasis, but the state's Department of H...

Emily Ashcraft, KSL

Utah reports 48 cyclospora cases, all but 5 could be tied to travel

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday that Utah has had 48 reported cases of cyclospora since May 1.

3 hours ago

A teen admitted to murder in a deadly Aug. 31, 2025, shooting at a Weber County street racing compe...

Tim Vandenack, KSL

Teen admits to murder in deadly shooting at Weber County street racing competition

A teenage boy has admitted to a count of murder in the Aug. 31 shooting incident last year during a street racing competition that left a man dead.

3 hours ago

Snowboarders are pictured at Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Jan. 9. Meteorologists are loo...

Dennis Romboy, Deseret News

‘Super El Niño’ is coming. What does that mean for Utah ski resorts?

Weather forecasters are looking ahead as the odds of a strong to historic El Niño are growing. Some are already dubbing it a "Super El Niño."

3 hours ago

A man with a full extradition warrant to Arizona was arrested in southern Utah over the weekend fol...

Pat Reavy, KSL

SWAT, tear gas used to capture wanted Arizona fugitive in southern Utah

A man wanted in Arizona was arrested in southern Utah following a standoff with a SWAT team.

4 hours ago

Road trip ready: How Bear Lake became the go-to destination for Western U.S. travelers

Whether you are chasing pristine beaches, fresh raspberry shakes, or endless water sports, this sponsored guide—brought to you in partnership with Bear Lake —uncovers everything you need to plan the ultimate getaway. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of hopping in the car with your favorite snacks in tow and heading out for a […]

Harper Clinic

A new standard of care: How Harper Clinic’s IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression. Utah’s mental health crisis is leaving many residents caught in an uncomfortable middle ground: struggling too much for weekly therapy alone, but unable to step away from work, parenting or daily life for inpatient treatment. As demand […]

Harper Clinic

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic’s TMS Therapy can help

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression. The weight of depression is real. Many people spend years fighting it, adjusting medications, managing side effects and wondering if this is simply how life is going to feel. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects […]

Andrew Adams, KSL

Library discussions bring men’s mental health to the surface

Therapists say it’s common for men to repress things like trauma, grief, stress and anxiety. Now, a new weekly series of discussions aims to help men bring it all to the surface.

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cozy up in Bear Lake: Discover the magic of a winter getaway

SALT LAKE CITY – The holiday season shines brightest when time slows down and loved ones gather. Gifts, decorations and festive music come and go, but shared experiences tend to last much longer. Research supports that idea. Dr. Theresa E. DiDonato told Psychology Today that vacations can strengthen relationships by creating meaningful time away from daily […]

Harper Clinic

Rewriting the path to healing: Inside Harper Clinic’s whole-person mental health model

OREM — A few decades ago, you’d have had a hard time finding a doctor to treat both your mind and body; And a century ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a doctor to treat your mind at all. Today, medical professionals are understanding more and more the undeniable connection between the body and […]

Possible cremated human remains left in front of West Valley City fire station, police say

We want to hear from you.

Utah

Sponsored Articles