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TOOELE CITY — A community is stepping up to help a 5-year-old boy with cerebral palsy after learning his wheelchair was in the family's car that was stolen early Saturday.
Rosy Mintz is eight months pregnant and just moved into a new apartment with boyfriend Austin Johnson. Keaton Johnson requires a specially designed wheelchair to get around, or he has to be carried.
"He does not understand why someone would steal our car," she said. "He just wants our stuff back."
When the family awakened Saturday morning, they discovered their 1999 green Honda Civic had been stolen. Just outside their apartment complex, the wheelchair was dumped but is missing the seat and the back.
"He's a little bummed. He wants his seat back," she said.
It would cost about $5,000 to replace the customized chair. Moving ate up most of the family's money and times are tight.
"This happened at a real stressful time," she said. "We don't have any extra money to save for a car at all. That is not an option for us."
As word spread about the family's plight, help began pouring in. They received a $100 gift card for gasoline. Someone dropped off a car seat for Keaton, she said, and a local dealership in town, Bargain Buggy's, donated them a replacement car Sunday night.
A GoFundMe account* was also set up for the family.
"Everyone is coming together," she said. "It's been great."
Tooele police are continuing to investigate the theft of the family car, checking for surveillance video and collecting evidence from the discarded chair.
Mintz said she believes the thieves were after the car because they wrongly believed it contained high-value stereo equipment like a subwoofer and amplifier. Although the car was still wired for the equipment, they had been removed.
The real loss was the wheelchair, she added.
"Finding one that is completely suited to his needs is going to be really hard."
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
