A Freeland man is pleading for the return of his father’s ashes and pictures -- which were stolen from his car parked inside the garage of an Everett hotel.
Chris Sansbury had just said goodbye to his father at his funeral on Sunday.
“He was my anchor,” Sansbury said.
He and his wife spent the night at the Hampton Inn off West Marine View Drive.
When he woke up Monday morning, he discovered thieves broke into his car.
“At first it was no big deal. It was a bummer but no big deal -- but then I realized my father was still in the vehicle,” Sansbury added.
His dad's ashes were stored in an urn.
Sansbury and his wife ran up and down the area around the hotel frantically, to see if anyone dumped the ashes.
To make matters worse, the criminals also made off with several photo albums, filled with some of the only pictures he has left of his dad.
“That was his life, that was my life, we compiled everything for the service,” Sansbury explained.
Sansbury describes his father as a generous man.
“When I was four, he adopted me,” he said. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Sansbury said his father was taken advantage of in his later years.
“They ended up robbing him blind -- slowly but surely, so those photos are all he has left,” Sansbury said. “And all we have of him.”
Already grieving, Sansbury's heartache is now compounded by this senseless crime.
“That’s the history to pass to my children,” Sansbury said. “I already lost my father and now it looks like I’ve already lost any ties to give to the kids.”
Sansbury said some other stuff was stolen but he doesn't care about any of it.
All he wants are the pictures and his dad's ashes back, no questions asked.
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