'Nothing else matters': Grieving N.S. mother seeks return of son's stolen ashes
A grieving Nova Scotia mother is making a public plea for the return of her son's ashes.
The funeral urn was among the items taken in a break-and-enter at her home late last month, and it's the only thing she says she wants back.
"I already had a service once for him, and I lost him suddenly. When he passed away, he died suddenly, in his sleep," said Mary Bond from her home in Upper Rawdon, N.S.
"Then to come home and find out I don't have him anymore, it was almost like doing it over again."
Bond says it was about 3 p.m. on New Year's Eve when she returned home to find the place had been ransacked while she was out.
According to Bond, thieves had broken in through the basement.
Some electronics and jewelry were missing, but she and other family members noticed almost immediately that the polished wooden urn was not in its place of honour in a bookcase in the room.
"The first thing you notice over there is Andrew, and it was gone," said Bond.
Andrew Anthony Vaughan was 36 when he died in his sleep of a blood clot in March of 2020.
Always a character, Vaughan was a fixture in the Halifax comedy scene, honing his stand-up skills for seven years before he died.
Since the sudden death, friends of Vaughan have raised more than $7,000 to help the family with expenses.
Long-time friend Andrew Evans shared more than a name with Vaughan -- they bonded on the comedy circuit.
He likes to think whoever took the urn didn't realize it contained human remains, adding he hopes it's returned.
"That's all his mother has left of him," said Evans from his home in Halifax.
Beyond the urn, police say the incident was a textbook break-and-enter, but the investigation hasn't revealed much.
Police have posted on social media, hoping for more leads.
"We would ask that you contact us, or contact Crime Stoppers if you want to remain anonymous, to provide your information, but what we do ask is that you do reach out," said Cpl. Chris Marshall with the Nova Scotia RCMP.
"Keep whatever you want, but please, take those ashes and the urn, and take them, call Crime Stoppers. I don't even care if you get a friend to do it. No questions will be asked," said Bond. "If I got those ashes back, nothing else matters. Nothing."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.