Truck stolen from Portland marina steals parents' memories
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The Ford F-250 truck Dustin and Tonya McNeely own is hard to miss. The silver truck has 37-inch tires that you need a ladder to get into.
They bought the 2004 truck for their son, but after he died five years ago they kept it and put a sign on the back: "In loving memory, Dustin E. McNeely Jr., 1997-2019."
This past Wednesday, the McNeelys parked their truck at Harbor One Marina in Northeast Portland as they relocated their boat. The marina's lot is surrounded by a barbed wire fence with access only by a key fob. But on Saturday, when they went back to drive it home, the truck was gone.
They filed a report with the Portland Police Bureau and made a post on PDX Stolen Cars, an organization that helps local law enforcement and the community track down stolen vehicles.
KOIN 6 News reached out to PPB for any updates but have not yet heard back.
The McNeelys went public with their story because they want this memory of their child back.
"It was for my son that actually committed suicide five years ago," Dustin Sr. said. "So we kind of kept it as a legacy and to have it. I was fixing it up, new tires, new everything, and it was just basically for that reason."
"When you lose a child, it's never the same," Tonya said. "So you hold on to those precious memories as long as you can because that's all you have. "
And if the person who stole the truck sees their plea, they just ask the truck be left someplace where it can be found.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Portland police.