It's the kind of mystery that troubles the mind and tugs at the heart.
A little blue box- one that might easily be mistaken for a fishing tackle box- found on a stretch of beach along the Eastern Shore.
Inside, not hooks, nor lures nor fishing line.
Instead, items so intimate, so personal it feels somewhat intrusive to even talk about them.
A little blue blanket, neatly folded and tucked inside, leaving just enough room for a tiny blue urn.
Pictures of the discovery posted on Facebook quickly made the rounds, deepening the mystery even further.
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Is this what we think it is?
The remnants of a little loved one?
And if so, why was it found here, after someone had taken such care to create this tiny coffin?
As the mystery grew, the Daphne police began to investigate.
And now, a family has come forward to claim the little blue box... and the precious contents in side.
"It was basically an attempt and kind of a ceremonial burial at sea, for a lack of a better word.," says Daphne police Sgt Jason Vannoy.
A stillborn child and, unfortunately, a burial refused by the bay, which, instead, gently pushed the little blue box to where it was found, leaving investigators themselves in uncharted waters:
How to resolve this heart-wrenching funeral gone awry?
"We have department regulations about how long we keep property,” says Vannoy, “but there's also exceptions to that. And this will be one of those exceptions."
An exception, because this little blue box is more than just property; it is a final embrace that fate would share with total strangers, and one this family must now endure again.
"We, of course, understand that it was a very emotional situation,” says Sgt. Vannoy, “and we're gonna give them the room that they need to make their decision."