Memorial Donations Stolen From Grieving Greeley Family
GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) - A grieving family in Greeley is devastated after someone stole donations meant for them, possibly during a funeral for three relatives.
On Jan. 25 Gilbert Martinez, his wife Mistelle Martinez and the couple's two young sons were hit by a suspected drunk driver on Highway 85. That driver crossed the median and hit their vehicle head on and was killed in the accident. Gilbert and the two boys -- Ethan and Bryson -- died.
"We all gathered at the Greeley hospital emergency area and we did find out at that time that both his younger sons had passed away in this accident," Gilbert's uncle Frank Martinez said.
Mistelle Martinez was left to plan a memorial for her own family. It was held last Friday at the Faith Tabernacle Church, and hundreds of people showed up.
"There were people who had sat in every seat of the sanctuary, and there were also folding chairs that were put out that people filled and also people standing in the foyer and people outside," Frank Martinez told CBS4.
Baskets full of cards and donations were also left for the family in the entryway. The church pastor said at one point during the service the baskets were overflowing. And then, suddenly, they were gone.
"We've searched high and low, and considering the days that have gone by it's pointing more in that direction that someone did go into the service and steal the cards and the money that was in them," Martinez said. "It's kind of a feeling of being kicked while you're down and just unimaginable that somebody would do something like that.
"Especially at a funeral. Especially after the loss that we suffered."
The family is hoping now that whomever is responsible will have a change of heart.
Greeley police are asking that because of the theft anyone who may have written a check for the family to cancel it. They are also asking that those who may have done so to keep an eye on their accounts and report anything suspicious to their office.
Additional Resources
Anyone who is interested in helping the Martinez family can do so with a financial donation on a gofundme page.
