Stealing from funeral donations

WJZ

Seven-year-old Steven Richards was killed in his own yard in early April. A tree branch broke and fell on his head. While struggling with the unexpected loss, someone has stolen money from the family.

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As if losing a child unexpectedly isn’t tough enough, Steven died while playing with his siblings in their yard. Three weeks later, the financial burden of this tragedy is getting worse.

“I never thought to have life insurance on my kids,” said mother Jenn Titchenell.

Money for a funeral was something this family just didn’t have. They asked the community for help, by putting out 10 collection cans in Glen Bernie.

‘They’ll ask, ‘who’s this? And what happened?’ And I’ll tell them, ‘it’s my nephew and he was killed. And I’m helping my sister bury her little boy,’” said Kathy Clark, Steven’s aunt.

The next blow came last week. Two of the cans were stolen.

“Somebody probably needed it more than he needed it. I don’t see how,” said Titchenell.

Every few days the family would come to each of the 10 spots to collect the money out of the cans. But when they came to Pizza Express, the can wasn’t there. Workers say they didn’t see anything.

The security camera wasn’t rolling last Monday, when they think the theft happened.

“You’re going through so much tragedy. Three months before, we lost my nephew. It seems that more and more is just building up,” said Titchenell.

Steven’s aunt has tied down the can at her store. The family still needs $2,000 by May 10. Every little bit helps pay off the bills.

“I hope you needed it more than my son needs it. What can you say to people who are like that? I’ll pray for you,” said Titchenell.

Titchenell is praying that the remaining eight cans will collect enough. There’s little hope they’ll see the stolen donations again.

Steven’s dad has taken a second job and is considering taking on a third to cover the bills.