Ornaments Stolen From Child’s Grave

Dozens of cherished ornaments were stolen from a Christmas tree placed by parents on the grave of their only child.

Peter Castro visited the grave over the weekend and found that 47 of the 50 special ornaments he and his wife, Julie, had collected over a decade were gone. Security guards were unable to find them on the grounds.

“I just got totally mad and sad and frustrated because you really can’t do anything,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking.”

The ornaments probably were taken by children, said George Herrera, a counselor with the Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery.

Andrew Castro was less than a month old when he died in June 1989 of a birth defect.

Every Christmas, the Castros have adorned a tree on his grave, adding ornaments over the years. One bore the inscription, “Baby’s First Christmas.”