The body of Julie Mott of San Antonio, Texas, was stolen from her casket after her funeral service was held on August 15 at Mission Parks Funeral Chapel, according to the New York Daily News . The funeral home is now offering a $20,000 reward for her remains to be returned.
Mott, who was only supposed to live until the age of 3, lost her life on August 8 after battling a life-long genetic disease called cystic fibrosis, which causes “persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe.” However, she beat the odds when she lived to be 25-years-old and became a graduate at San Antonio College.
Texan woman Julie Mott’s body is stolen after her memorial service… http://t.co/Njnubc2E87
— UK News Information (@AnglosearchNews) August 23, 2015
“Julie lived her life in a house full of love,” according to her obituary. “Her family was deeply devoted to her living as normal of a life as possible. Perhaps her greatest relationship was the one she had with her mother.”
“The bond between a mother and her daughter is always strong, but theirs was stronger. Through the doctor appointments and the hospital stays, the love they shared for one another grew with each passing day.
“Julie will continue to live in the hearts and minds of those who had the pleasure to know and love her.”
Mott was scheduled to be cremated the following Monday, but her family soon discovered another tragedy. Staff at Mission Parks Funeral Chapel stated that her “casket had been broken into” and her body was missing. San Antonio police believe her body was stolen from her casket from someone who attended her memorial service between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. as there were no signs of forced entry.
“Whoever did it was pretty daring about it,” said Sgt. Javier Salazar. “Our No. 1 priority, of course, is getting her back to her family. A close second is to find out who the person was who did it and bring them to justice.”
“It’s heartbreaking to see a family that went through all that with her… now being put through this before being able to go through mourning and get the closure any family needs.”
Funeral director Roberts Tips said in a statement, “This is an unprecedented and unthinkable event and we are doing everything in our power to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation.”
“They are a wonderful family and the loss of their daughter was a heavy burden for them to bear.”
On a memorial page, Brian Cornwell wrote, “My dear Julie, the girls and I will not rest until you do. It’s been a mean world without you. I love you more than life itself.”
Mission Parks Funeral Chapel is offering a $20,000 reward to anyone who will return Julie Mott’s remains to give “closure to her family’s grief.”
[Image via Don LaVange / Flickr / Creative Commons]