Burglars Steal Ashes Of Police Officer's Father
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A Palm Beach Schools police resource officer has a message for the people who broke into her home and stole a black box - give it back because it contains my father's ashes.
"I would just ask them to please return my dad back to me," said Gina Goulette - a tough cop who struggled against tears while talking about her dad.
Goulette's father, 67-year-old Stephen Arthur Goulette, a veteran and father of two, suddenly died of a heart attack three months ago.
Now, she feels like she is mourning his loss again after her Lauderhill home, in the 4500 block of NW 70th Avenue, was broken into on October 26th sometime between 11 a.m. and noon. Whoever did it, broke a rear sliding glass door to get inside.
Goulette said she was awaiting delivery of a custom urn for her father's ashes so, until then, she kept them in the box that was taken.
"They were gone. They are gone and it felt like I lost him all over again," said Goulette.
Also, stolen were other sentimental items including pictures of him.
"Photographs of my mom and dad's wedding," said Goulette. "There's a picture of me and him when I graduated from the police academy, in the box they took."
They also got away with a watch which was the last Christmas gift she gave him.
"For like two months after Christmas, every day he thanked me. He was so excited. He never took it off," said Goulette.
The burglars also took Goulette's gun, jewelry, and electronics.
Lauderhill Police said surveillance video shows two persons of interest in the area during the time of the burglary as well as a silver or gray vehicle, possibly a Pontiac. The car was seen backing out of the Goulette's driveway.
Being a cop, Goulette's first thought might be of catching the thieves, but she prefers something else - no questions asked.
"His loss is devastating, and if you have any humanness or heart, please, just do the right thing, that's all I ask," said Goulette.
Anyone with information that can help investigators retrieve Goulette father's ashes is urged to call the Lauderhill police at (954) 497-4700