GRESHAM, Ore. — A Gresham woman is asking for help after someone stole something very precious to her. It’s a small, pink and gold heart-shaped urn containing the ashes of her late baby girl.
“When she was born, that was the greatest moment of my life,” said Denise Douglas, who lost Jacinda in 2006.
Douglas said the infant was born premature and only lived for 10 minutes.
“When she died it was the worst moment,” she said. “It’s kind of like I’m living that all over again.”
After losing her housing, Douglas stored the urn and several other valuables inside a storage unit at Northwest Self-Storage at 629 SE Mount Hood Hwy in Gresham. Police said last month someone broke into Douglas’ unit.
“A ton of stuff was gone,” she said. “My daughter's urn, her ashes. She was gone.”
Douglas’ mother said she hopes the thief realizes what they have.
“Whoever took it probably has no idea what it is,” Raeanna Purdy said. “That's somebody's life in there!”
Douglas filed a police report with Gresham police, made fliers and opened an e-mail account for tips at whereisjacinda@yahoo.com.
“My hope is that they'll do the right thing,” Purdy said. “Have a heart, my goodness, this is somebody's child.”
Douglas said she’ll never forget holding Jacinda in her arms or in the palm of her hands.
“Just find a way to bring her home,” Douglas said. “That's my daughter.”
Anyone with information on this case was asked to call the Gresham Police Department at 503-618-2318 and reference case #19-34975.