Thieves Swipe Veteran’s Ashes, Medallions

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4) - Thieves stole the ashes of a Vietnam veteran from his family’s car on Monday night.

Family of Jose Guilberto S. Quintana, who passed away suddenly at age 67 in July, said thieves took two silver memorial tokens containing ashes that were meant to be given to his son and mother. A family member said the only thing left in the car was an empty box.

“It’s something very special that we had made,” Quintana’s sister, Roberta Mascarenas, said.

One of the medallions was to be given to Quintana’s mother, who will turn 89 next month. The medallion had Quintana’s thumbprint on one side and his birthdate and the date he passed on the other.

Mascarenas said the family hoped it would help her deal with the loss of her son.

“She’s taking it really hard, I think as any mother does when they lose a child,” Mascarenas said.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to contact them. The thieves, they said, can also drop off the stolen items anonymously.