Mystery over cremated remains discovered in abandoned funeral home

Death certificates found by 'urban explorer' alongside the ashes

At least seven sets of remains were found in the basement of the former Howell Funeral Home (Google Maps)

The mystery of how at least seven sets of cremated remains were left in an abandoned funeral home is being investigate by police in Detroit.

Discovered by an "urban explorer" in a basement of the former Howell Funeral Home, he took photographs of the remains before tipping off the Detroit Free Press newspaper, who in turn alerted the city's police force.

He told the newspaper that death certificates were alongside the remains, which were in boxes on a shelf.

“They were on the shelves in the basement in the old embalming room," he said.

A spokesman for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, which is responsible for the state's funeral homes, said it would open a consumer complaint to start an investigation.

The discovery came a week after 11 fetal remains were found inside the defunct Cantrell Funeral Home in Detroit after an anonymous tip off.

It had been closed for months when the remains were found.

In October, the remains of 63 fetuses were found in another funeral home, leading the state to suspend its license and close the facility.