Cops Nab Alleged Package Thief, Priceless Memory Quilts Returned To Edison Woman
EDISON, N.J.(CBSNewYork) -- Precious, emotionally priceless, and back home where they belong. An Edison woman was ecstatic over the return of the intricate quilts she had made in memory of her late son.
"I don't even know if I have the words to describe how happy I am that we got these back," Karen Delmonaco said.
As CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported, the quilts were stolen in November, after they were delivered to her doorstep.
The theft was captured on surveillance camera. Now, Christmas has come early.
"Oh my God, you had no idea. What a relief! I needed this bad," she said.
Karen wanted the quilts to honor her son, Robert Delmonaco, 21, of the 102nd Calvary Regiment in the Army National Guard.
The three memory quilts, with a total of 90 pieces of Robert's shirts, and portions of his military uniform were meticulously cut by Karen, by hand.
They were meant to be Christmas presents for her two daughters and her son's father, and now they will be.
"I never gave up hope," Karen said.
She recently got the news that police had nailed the person who took them.
Hector Davila has been charged with theft.
Cops say his dark colored mini-van was the same one used in other package thefts, and the pieces came together.
The quilts have since been returned to Karen.
"Each piece is a special part of my son's life and has memories attached for all of us," she said.
The most enduring and tangible reminders of her son are back where they belong.
Delmonaco said it took her about a week, working at night, to cut out all 90 squares used to make the three quilts.
She did it in secret, in her basement, so the quilts would be a surprise for her daughters.
