Man Pleads For Help After U-Haul Van Containing Mother's And Grandma's Ashes Is Stolen

A man in the US is pleading for help after a U-Haul van containing his mum's and his grandma's ashes was stolen.

Jared D'Amato was in the process of moving from Florida to Colorado when he decided to take a break on the 2,000-mile trip at a Best Western hotel in Kansas City.

But he realised his big move had taken a disastrous turn when he stirred on Saturday (18 June) morning.

"First thing in the morning me and my friend Clay were out on the back and we just looked at each other and we noticed the U-Haul was missing," Jared told FOX 4 said.

As well as derailing his trip and taking piles of possessions loaded into the 20-foot van, the thief stole sentimental items that can't be replaced - most notably the ashes of his grandma and his mum, who died last year.

"It's just like when you're watching the news and you see a tornado or hurricane wipe away someone's house and they lose all of their possessions and their belongings it just feels like that," he said.

"I just never thought this would happen to me it's the worst thing imaginable."

Jared's sister drove in from Colorado on Saturday evening to pick him and help him complete his cross-country trip - albeit without the possessions he was ferrying from Florida.

Fox 4

Now Jared is pleading with the crook to return these priceless items.

He said: "You can take anything, my tools anything of value but please for the love of god can you please leave my mother's ashes, my grandmother's ashes, my photos, it's all I have left of her."

Staff at the hotel told KMBC 9 that CCTV footage shows the U-Haul driving off at around 3.15am on Saturday, followed by another vehicle.

The station also reported that the U-Haul has a blue mammoth decal on its side, along with Arizona license plate AG64189.

Fox 4

Police told FOX 4 that they are investigating the crime, but would not confirm whether they had footage of the theft.

Anyone with information about the theft can contact the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, or the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline on 816-474-TIPS.

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Topics: US News, Crime

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey