AURORA, Colo. “People following Denver7 make a difference,” the Merithew family of South Sioux City, Nebraska asked.
Aaron and Cheyanne Merithew drove 800 miles to Aurora last week so their 4-year-old son Landon could receive critical medical treatment for cerebral palsy at Children’s Hospital.
Before they could return home, the thieves stole their pickup, a 2000 Ford F-350.
The family contacted Contact7 for help and, after sharing their story on Denver7, a security guard watched as he saw the couple get up behind an apartment complex at 146 Delmar Circle.
He called the police and they called John’s Towing Service.
David Messmer posted on our Facebook page that he towed the pickup to a confiscation lot.
Thus, Merithews found out that the 2000 Ford F-350 had been recovered.
“I was glad they found her,” Aaron Merithew said. “Then it flooded my head – what’s missing?”
“I was shaking. I was crying. I was so excited, you know,” Cheyanne said. “And Landon was very excited when he found out this morning.”
Merithews are amazed at the outpouring of support from people who want to help. One of them was the owner of a semi that Aaron used to work as a diesel mechanic.
“He commented that basically ‘If I have to buy you a car to get me around …’ and Aaron said no, it’s not necessary,” Cheyanne said. “The next morning, we woke up and called Aaron and said, ‘I’m about to pick you up, I bought you a car.’ And I was like, “What? What the?” Our reaction was just shocking. “
Many others contributed cash to help pay for expenses.
Merithews said their truck will need some repairs.
Cheyanne said the door lock and ignition system were compromised.
She said Landon’s child seat is still inside, but I don’t know if all the instruments are.
“Landon absolutely loves this truck,” Cheyanne said. “It’s his truck. It’s literally been called Landon’s truck for a long time. I don’t know if it’s the diesel engine, or the jumps, or both, but I’ve never heard him laugh as much as we did on the way to Colorado. “
The family is grateful that their negative experience here takes a turn for the better.
“There’s still a lot more good than bad,” Aaron said. “Evil strikes harder.”
But in this case, evil is defeated by a wave of goodwill.