Surfer Finds Urn Containing Ashes Of SoCal Woman On Hawaii Beach

MARINA DEL REY (CBSLA.com) — A surfer discovered a funeral urn containing the ashes of a Southern California woman on the shores of Diamond Head in Hawaii.

Heather Faustin, of Mililani, found the wrapped container in the water back in January.

"It's totally intact. It's in a plastic container and when you shake it, you can totally tell there's something in it," she said.

The name Betty Rhea Hilton Hauptman and a Marina del Rey address were written on the box.

Faustin has been trying to find Hauptman's family so that the woman can get a proper burial.

"I called the apartment that she lived in and another dead end," she said.

KCAL9's Rachel Kim went to Hauptman's apartment in Marina del Rey and spoke to Michael, the woman's former neighbor.

He said Hauptman lived at the apartment for more than 10 years.

"I knew Rhea really well. Talked to her a lot and she…she didn't want to live," he said.

Michael said Hauptman committed suicide several months ago. He said authorities found her body inside her apartment Jan. 1, days after she took her own life.

He was shocked to find out that someone had found his neighbor's ashes.

"I'm totally blown away. Because no one heard anything after they carried her out on New Year's Day," he said. "I'm hoping that somebody will watch this. A family member…a friend…and they'll contact you guys."

The funeral home listed on the box said the remains were given to the proper party in January, but it's unknown who received the ashes due to privacy laws.

Faustin said she will scatter the ashes in the ocean if no one claims the urn.