A mother and police officer have pleaded for a teenager’s ashes to be returned after they went missing from a memorial site.
Angelina Johnson and Durham Constabulary police officer, Kate Ward, have appealed to the person who took the plant which contained the ashes to return it to the devastated family.
The memorial site on the A688 between Evenwood Gate and West Auckland, is in remembrance of Jed Johnson, 17, from Toft Hill, who was killed when the vehicle he was driving collided with a tree on February 28, 2014.
Jed’s mother, Ms Johnson, said: “The tree has become a place of remembrance for everyone who knew Jed. He was kind, caring, outgoing, loving and always put his friends first. At his funeral, someone told me that he was the most well-mannered boy they had known. It makes me emotional to this day saying that.”
PC Ward said: “As a way of helping Jed’s bereaved friends, his mother placed some of Jed’s ashes in one of the plant pots around the base of the tree and planted a colourful Hebe plant which has since flourished. At some point in the last ten to twelve days, someone has taken the plant from the site, inadvertently taking Jed’s ashes with it. The family realised when they visited to remember him on what would have been his 22nd birthday. They are understandably devastated and just want the plant back.
“The family have maintained the site for years and nothing untoward has ever happened until now. It has become affectionately known as ‘Jed’s Tree’ where his family and friends go to chat about him or just quietly remember him.
“I would really like to appeal for the safe return of the plant, complete in its pot to the memorial site.”
Ms Johnson added: “I am not bothered who took it. I just want it back. Please don’t be frightened to return it. It’s the little things that count, not the big things.”
If anyone has any information about who may have taken the plant or where it is now please call Durham Constabulary on 101 quoting reference 333 of April 3.
