Heartbroken man pleads for return of father’s ashes that were stolen along with his car

Zach Johnson had his car stolen last week. He doesn’t care so much about the Chevy Malibu, what he really wants back is what was inside: his father’s ashes and mementos.

While moving into a new apartment in San Diego’s Cortez Hill neighborhood, the 22-year-old Johnson decided he was done for the day. He would finish unloading in the morning. But by then, his car would be gone.

He’s heartbroken over the loss.

“My dad gave me these mementos before he died,” Johnson said Thursday. “They were all in there.”

What he lost includes his dad’s coin collection, an inscribed watch, an old cigar box with Disney tickets from a trip the two took together, and the ashes.

Johnson was moving into an apartment on Date Street near 8th Avenue on Friday, and about 4:30 p.m., he called it quits and went upstairs for the night. The next morning, when he didn’t see his car, “I walked around the block three times, just in case I’d gotten turned around,” he said.

“It finally hit me: My car’s gone.”

He called the police and filed a report. Then he posted photographs of the white 2011 Malibu on Facebook. While getting the car back would be nice, he is really hoping to be reunited with his father’s things. And his voice.

Three years ago, Johnson’s father died in his sleep. His health had been failing for years, and he had started to pass down things to his son. A week before he died, Johnson got a voice mail message from his dad, who lived in Texas while Johnson lived with his mom in Arkansas.

“He just said that he loved and missed me,” Johnson said. The message wasn’t long, “but it means a lot to me.” He saved that phone so he could replay the message when he wanted to hear his dad’s voice. That was in the car, too.

There were other things stolen, including a computer and most of his winter clothes, worth a total of about $2,000. The thieves can keep it all, he said. He just wants his mementos back, he said.

“That stuff has no value to them and it means everything to me,” he said.

Anyone with information about Johnson’s car can call police at (619) 531-2000.

Winkley writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.