Winnipeg mom calls for stolen ashes to be returned

A Winnipeg family is appealing for the return of sacred, irreplaceable items after their car was robbed. Pieces of jewelry containing the ashes of a lost loved one.

Farrell Piche fell victim to toxic drug poisoning in 2021. His grieving family wanting to forever hold him near, placed his ashes in necklaces.

But earlier this month, two of the necklaces belonging to his daughters were taken.

“That was their personal necklaces of their dad that were stolen. And when they really, really miss their dad, they would just take their necklaces and hold them, and just cry for him. They were very, very important to our family, as you can imagine, that was my son – my child,” said Sandy Banman, grieving mother looking for son’s ashes.

Now, his family is begging whoever took the necklaces, shaped like a butterfly and an angel, to return the jewelry containing Farrell’s remains.

The stolen necklaces, which were shaped like an angel and a butterfly, circled in red, can be seen in this photo. (Supplied/Sandy Banman)

“No questions will be asked. We will not be upset. We will not be mad with you, I would just be so happy give you could just return these necklaces.”

In Winnipeg, thefts from motor vehicles are on the rise with more than 10,000 instances last year.

In 2022, the city saw an increase over the five year average of more than 38 per cent for thefts under $5,000, and a 101 per cent increase for thefts over $5,000.

Banman says the theft happened in broad daylight in the area near Broadway and Langside around 7 p.m. on July 6. The remains of the 27-year-old were left in her daughter’s vehicle during the whirlwind of a move, as she didn’t want to store them in a U-Haul.

Sandy Banman looks at a photo of her late son Farrell Piche during an interview with CityNews on July, 20, 2023. She says getting the ashes home is incredibly important. (Photo Credit: Morgan Modjeski, CityNews)

When the necklaces were stolen, Banman and her daughter were devastated.

“It was horrific. She was hysterical, I got hysterical. We were very, very upset to find that. Of course, anything else in the car could have been replaceable, but those necklaces, nothing can replace those parts of my son’s body.”

A member of the Red River Metis, Banman says the necklaces hold cultural significance.

She says it pains her to think of where they may be.

To have his ashes contained in a necklace that his family members could wear was one of the wishes Farrell Piche made before he died in 2021 at the age of 27. (Supplied/Sandy Banman)

“Those ashes contain his DNA, but also mine and my whole families. I just feel so horrible that they’re now out there somewhere and pieces of him are maybe strewn all over – or in the garbage – who knows what’s happened to them.”

She’s asking anyone with information to come forward and is hoping the person who stole the necklaces realises the gravity of the situation… and wants to ease the family’s pain.