A New York man, Nuo Chen, is accused of stealing the ashes of a Pennsylvania woman’s deceased daughter and holding them for ransom. The woman, who owns a nail salon in Bensalem, reported that Chen, a former employee, entered her home in Willow Grove and stole an urn containing the ashes.

Background

Chen was recently fired from the salon after acting erratically towards customers. He continued to show up to the business and cause problems, leading to a confrontation with the woman on June 12. Chen allegedly threatened to smash things and pushed the woman, injuring her.

After leaving the salon, Chen went to the woman’s home and was observed on surveillance video trying to enter the home and later quickly walking down the driveway holding a dark-colored box. The woman reported that Chen had stayed at her home twice over the past two months and may have taken her house keys and car keys during that time.

Chen later contacted the woman, telling her he had the ashes and demanding she pay him between $7,000 and $8,000 to get the urn back. He threatened to dump the ashes or flee to New York with the urn if the woman told police.

Arrest and Charges

Chen was taken into custody after police responded to a report of an alarm at the nail salon. He was found leaving the salon with a red shopping bag containing the ashes. Chen admitted to police that he stole the urn and was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and theft by extortion.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.