In a heart-wrenching incident, a Florida man’s custom car was stolen on Monday, taking with it an irreplaceable item: his mother’s ashes. Larry Carter Jr. of Winter Haven awoke to find his 2023 limited-edition Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak missing from his neighborhood. To Carter’s disbelief, he had slept through the theft, which he believes involved someone breaking into his vehicle and rolling it out of his driveway before starting the engine. The car’s back windshield bore a sign that read “In Loving Memory of Lorena Leonard,” Carter’s late mother who passed away in March 2019.
Carter explained that the car had special significance for him, as it was acquired primarily to honor his mother’s memory. He kept her ashes in the cupholder and took them with him whenever he drove the car. Carter also reported that he found some of the ashes hanging out of his mailbox, prompting him to immediately report the incident to the police. Despite his disappointment at losing his custom car, Carter expressed relief at having his mother’s ashes back, acknowledging their priceless nature.
The Winter Haven Police Department is actively investigating the car theft and has canvassed Carter’s neighborhood for evidence. While Carter remains hopeful that his car will be recovered, he is grateful to have his mother’s ashes returned. With a compassionate heart, Carter expressed understanding toward the suspected thief or thieves, saying, “Whoever it was, still got a good heart. It’s all Him.”
The investigation into the stolen car and the suspect’s identity is ongoing.
