Devastated mom pleads for return of her lost son's stolen trailer
ORTING, Wash. - When someone stole a trailer filled with precious mementos and memories of a lost son, the victims were heartbroken.
They put up signs along the road - with a plea to return something that is irreplaceable ... and precious. But after receiving no information, they shared their story with the KOMO Problem Solvers
Now relatives hope that sharing their story might bring those momentos and memories back home.
Jordan Hulsing died 3 1/2 years ago in a motorcycle accident. His mother says he was kind and loving - and his young son, Hunter, was his life.
Now Jordan's mother, Joni Ward, struggles with a fresh wound. Earlier this month, somebody stole her son's 21-foot travel trailer from behind a relative's home.
The trailer was filled with his photos, clothes, books and other personal mementos.
"Not much value, they're not valuable, but they're valuable, priceless to us," says Joni. "Devastated - it's hard to go on."
The family was keeping them for Jordan's son Hunter, who is now 10 years old.
"For my grandson, it's the little things," says Joni. "The shaving kit that Jordan used the last day he was alive, that I set aside so that when Hunter starts to shave he can shave."
After going to the police, after going door-to-door, after putting up those signs - this mom reached out to the Problem Solvers for help.
"Somebody has to have seen something or know something - or maybe a friend knows that this has happened," says Joni.
She believes the more people who learn about this - the greater chance somebody might call in a tip. And perhaps they might return a father's mementos to young Hunter.
"It's the only thing he gets to have, that he gets to inherit - and they're treasures," she says.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for the tip that solves this crime.
The missing travel trailer is a 2006 Salem, mostly white with blue and maroon graphics. There's a square receiver hitch on the back bumper.
They put up signs along the road - with a plea to return something that is irreplaceable ... and precious. But after receiving no information, they shared their story with the KOMO Problem Solvers
Now relatives hope that sharing their story might bring those momentos and memories back home.
Jordan Hulsing died 3 1/2 years ago in a motorcycle accident. His mother says he was kind and loving - and his young son, Hunter, was his life.
Now Jordan's mother, Joni Ward, struggles with a fresh wound. Earlier this month, somebody stole her son's 21-foot travel trailer from behind a relative's home.
The trailer was filled with his photos, clothes, books and other personal mementos.
"Not much value, they're not valuable, but they're valuable, priceless to us," says Joni. "Devastated - it's hard to go on."
The family was keeping them for Jordan's son Hunter, who is now 10 years old.
"For my grandson, it's the little things," says Joni. "The shaving kit that Jordan used the last day he was alive, that I set aside so that when Hunter starts to shave he can shave."
After going to the police, after going door-to-door, after putting up those signs - this mom reached out to the Problem Solvers for help.
"Somebody has to have seen something or know something - or maybe a friend knows that this has happened," says Joni.
She believes the more people who learn about this - the greater chance somebody might call in a tip. And perhaps they might return a father's mementos to young Hunter.
"It's the only thing he gets to have, that he gets to inherit - and they're treasures," she says.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for the tip that solves this crime.
The missing travel trailer is a 2006 Salem, mostly white with blue and maroon graphics. There's a square receiver hitch on the back bumper.
I am sorry for the loss, but, lady, it's time to let it go and move on with your life - there is no reasonable need to keep such mementos for a long time! I understand about you trying to keep a few things for his son, but his clothes, etc.??? Time for the grieving to end!
@musiclover For being such an expert on living life why is you don't have one? I think my brother would have wanted his son to have everything that was his including his clothes. There is no moving on with a normal life when you lose someone so close to you.
@musiclover Have you never lost someone you love, someone who left behind "things" that mean something, not for their monetary value, but the sentimental value? I feel sorry for you. These mementos are precious reminders of someone who will never walk through the door again. And who made you the grieving police?
 @musiclover It kind of sounds like she had come to terms with it, until some thieving dirt bag took the trailer. Who made you the authority on how long people should keep mementos? Could you please share with us the proper length these items should be kept? Â
It really is none of your business. Maybe instead of focusing on what is going on with the mom, you should focus on the crime. Your heart isn't big enough to do both.
I am curious as to who you are to tell someone how to live their life. How to deal with the loss of her own son. To tell her that it is time to move on. She has every right to fill a 21 foot trailer of whatever she wants....and she has every right to keep such memories till the day she dies.Â
Um, how about a description, license plate #, and photos of the trailer? Hello KATU?
 @HuskyKMA Lol, The 21 foot traiier at least narrows it down to 1 and 2,000,000+. Weak reporting
 @B00gs  @HuskyKMA An understatement, you're supposed to gather that information in the 23.576 seconds they dedicate to the story on the air. Â
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Online news doesn't allow them to feed you, just present.
Truly a horrible theft...but did anyone ever think about using something like a safety deposit box? Â Storing some of the items in a place no thief could get to? Â This is so sad...
Have you seen the size of a safety deposit box? They are basically for documents, and that is reflected, in their size.
 @BCH mom I questioned the mother's choices in storage and got a new one reemed for me.  I hope you fare better.
Check the for sale adds in CL.
Can we get a photo posted of that model, maybe from the manufacturer of the trailer?Â
 @Kristen Peterson McCormick Maybe this would work?
http://www.rvweb.com/guides/manufacturers/forest_river/models/2006_salem_west-1127422277792
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PEOPLE ARE JUST PATHETIC, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO RUIN OTHERS LIVES JUST CAUSE THEIRS SUCKS. I HOPE THEY FIND THE TRAILER AND EVERYTHING IS STILL IN IT AND SHE GETS EVERYTHING BACK AND THEY FIND THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK IT AND LOCK THEIR BUTTS UP.
Her pain is just too much. I wished I could help more than positive comments. Ugh....I also hope the thieves allow her plea to touch their hearts and return the trailer.Â
Please put a post on Craigslist under community with the details!
I'm so sorry for your loss.I lost my brother two years ago from a heart attack so I know how you feel.I hope the person(s) who took the trailer return it.If the police find the trailer and the scumbags who took it, I would LOVE to take my bull whip to them!
So sad that the physical memories have been lost. Hopefully they will be found.
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To those of you who feel the need to blame the victim in this...shame on you. My DD stored her stuff in a cargo trailer here in the PNW for almost 3 years - pictures, mattress, other belongings - and they were just fine when we were finally able to unpack the trailer. You must be thieves yourselves to EVER blame a victim of a crime.  How about bad mouthing the friggin criminal rather than the victim.
License # ??? Love to help but I don't want to find the wrong trailer !!!
I'm sorry as heck for the loss of sentimental valuables, but why would you keep such mementos in a travel trailer in the Pacific Northwest? Â Mold is a problem here for anything and everything...I sure would have at least kept the photos in the house...in a box under the bed would have been better. Â Not blaming the victims, but common sense dictates.......
@Sundowner
Don't give the lady a hard time. She has enough troubles without you telling her how it should have been done.
 @Sundowner Wow. If you read that article and your first thoughts are about mold and that the mementos should have been stored somewhere else? You have deep problems.
 @T T  @Sundowner He sure does!
 @T T Did you read the very first part of my comment?  The "I'm sorry as heck..." part?  I have no deep problems.  I'm a realist, I have photos/mementos that are priceless to me.  I've owned RVs in the past -- there's no way to climatize against condensation, hot/cold.  I'd never stick the priceless photos of my children in a trailer and hope for the best.  I've seen what can happen under ideal conditions over time.  BTW, if the picture of the trailer or even the license plate number was included in the story, the woman might have more luck recovering her stuff....it's doubtful whoever stole it wants the stuff and hopefully they haven't disposed of it yet.
@Sundowner @T T I agree with sundowner. my first thought was there is no way I would keep photos anywhere except inside the house where I am. sorry if that means I am blaming the victim ..but please, people, keep your irreplaceable photos inside your own house!
 @Sundowner  @T T Bull!Have you ever heard of a dehumidifier?I use one and it works very well.
 @Sundowner You have no idea how they may have "climatized" that trailer, and if they didn't want to use your idea of "common sense" in dealing with the worst tragedy a parent can face, THAT'S THEIR BUSINESS. My God! What nerve to in any way whatsoever lecture these people!!!!
 @gofigure  @Sundowner I agree with you gofigure.Maybe it was too painful for her to go thru the young man's stuff.I lost my brother two years ago from a heart attack so I know how painful it is.
 @granny4life  @Jim330rifle ~  Not all of us have kids, granny... and for those people, there may well be other loved ones in their lives, eg: siblings, whose loss is every bit as devastating to them as that of a parent who has lost a child.   Peoples' relationships with each other are unique to each person...Â
 @whirledworld  @Sundowner  @gofigure Good idea!
 @whirledworld Thanks...I've done it with many, but procrastination sets in.  I also gave each child's 'growing up' pics to them on their 21st birthdays with written explanations behind a ton of them.  Very special for me and for them.
 @Sundowner  @Jim330rifle  @gofigure Digitalize them and put those images on thumbdrives and put them in various places (house, bank safebox, relatives/friends/etc.) so if the house burns down, you still will have copies of the pictures. If you don't know how, there are places that can do it for you.Â
 @granny4life God bless you and I'm sorry for your loss.
 @granny4life  @Jim330rifle I guess you are right.Thank you.
 @Jim330rifle believe me you do not know what this woman is going thru, burying a brother does not come close to burying your child.  I have buried a child and I never, ever would have had his things in a trailer.  In fact his things have been packed up and are in my closet where they are much safer than in the elements.  Sorry for your loss on all levels, his things and him. Â
 @Jim330rifle  @gofigure I agree regarding it likely being too painful but she was saving these things for her grandson, right?  Yes, a dehumidifier works great but you know I'm right regarding mold/mildew in the Pacific NW.  As a mother, there's no way I'd have put pictures in a trailer or a cargo container or a garage or a storage unit.  Mine are kept in the nearest cupboard to an exit door....in case of fire, it's my husband, the dog and pictures in my order of priorities.  I don't care whether you agree with me or not.  I can't imagine the pain this woman is feeling and hope her mementos are returned or found by a caring individual who sees to it she gets them back.  The thieves certainly don't want/need them.  Oh, I meant the low-life thieves -- the trailer is nothing compared to what was stored in it.
Hopefully they get the trailer back and then invest in a simple lock for the hitch which would have prevented this.
@Peregrine Yeah because thieves don't have bolt cutters and cordless grinders. There was a lock on it.
Oh, the wonderful "age of greed and entitlement"..! Â Â "You have it, I want it, so I'm <entitled> to just go take it away from you..." Â Â
I hope someone calls in a tip that leads to recovery of the traier AND its contents..!
Oh yeah, and pics of the trailer (or one as close to it as possible) - and the license plate # would be ery helpful..!
I just h-a-t-e thieves..!
Yeah, pictures of the trailer, and not the crying mom, would be most helpful.
 @correct well, both are helpful as perhaps the thieves will see her image and have remorse.
This is just so wrong. The life of thugs and thieves, the heartless and cruel world of those that don't care that they rip off from someone else really screws people who are trying hard to do things the right way.Â
At first I was going to ask if the trailer was repo'd, but I don't think they are allowed to go onto someones property. Hope everything works out.
If this is a travel trailer? Are there pictures &/or License Plate - I am happy to get this out on FB so that people can be on the lookout!
I hope they find it, and if they do, I hope they'll find a more secure place for it. Stealing a trailer shouldn't be so easy.Â
That's sad. I hope she gets her son's stuff back. It's just stuff to someone else but it's priceless memories to her and her grandson. Why do so many people think they deserve what other people have more than they do?
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