Houston man reaches out to FOX 26 after father's ashes were stolen from truck
HOUSTON - In a FOX 26 exclusive, a Houston man is now pleading for the public's help to find his dad's ashes after his car was stolen in Northwest Houston.
Justin Lawrence is now asking for help after he says, thieves not only took him for $6,000 in landscaping equipment, but they also took his truck his father gave him, along with his dad’s ashes that were inside.
"If they eventually find the truck abandoned by the side of the road, I know the tools might be gone, but all I want are the ashes back," said Lawrence.
Lawrence tells us, his father was the driving force for why he decided to start his own landscaping business.
"I know he’s smiling down on me," said Lawrence. "He has his wings now, however, I feel guilty because his ashes were in there."
His father passed away in May after an infection from a catheter spread throughout his body. He was 86 years old.
"That was something I did not see coming," said Lawrence. "I kept him in the truck to keep him close as well as I wanted to spread him out."
Lawrence says his dad’s wish was to be scattered throughout the city he loved so much.
"I told him I wanted to do landscaping and when he passed, I felt that I had to start my business, not only for myself but for him," said Lawrence.
Lawrence tells FOX 26, his business is closed for now, canceling on his regulars. And believes in hindsight he was most likely being watched.
"When I come in from work, I always run a chain and lock through my equipment," said Lawrence. "I think they definitely had to be watching me and seen that I locked them up so they got the whole truck."
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Justin says he’s filed a report with Houston police. The apartment complex where this theft took place in Northwest Houston does not have surveillance video. He’s hoping this story will develop leads.