According to authorities, an empty casket with a U.S. military seal on it was discovered in the Arizona desert on Saturday. The metallic silver box appeared after two people playing paintball found it near Interstate 10.

The Deputies were called to the area and the forensic investigators took DNA samples from the casket. After investigation it was revealed that the casket had been thrown away by a mortuary after the family of the service member asked that the body be exhumed and cremated.

According to reports, mortuary employees contacted authorities Sunday after seeing news accounts about the discovery.

No information was given on who had been buried in the casket.

Deputy Dawn Barkman, a spokeswoman for the Pima County Sheriff's Office, said the casket was taken to a landfill after the body was exhumed in late May. Someone took it from the landfill, and then dumped it, he said.