Boone County buys cemetery space for unclaimed remains

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -

Boone County will buy space at a Jefferson City cemetery to house dozens of unclaimed remains at the medical examiner's office.

The county commission approved the $6,600 contract with Hawthorn Memorial Gardens at its Tuesday meeting. The contract allows the Boone/Callaway Medical Examiner's Office to keep unclaimed cremated remains at the cemetery.

Eric Maze, a spokesperson for MU Health, said the office has more than 100 such unclaimed remains in its possession. The contract allows them to make space at the MU Health and School of Medicine campus, while also storing the remains in a more fitting setting should no one ever claim them. The medical examiner's office will still facilitate handing those remains over to a family member should someone later claim them.

Nick McKague, co-owner of Parker-Millard Funeral Services, said the agreement allows the remains to stay in a secure space and helps the community and medical examiner's office.