A Philadelphia woman is pleading for the return of her father's ashes after the urn containing them was swiped from her vehicle, reported FOX 29. Haley Ann Burgess was hit with a harrowing discovery when she found her Chevy Equinox burgled between Monday night and Tuesday morning on the 4000 block of Teesdale, just as the fifth anniversary of her father, Tao Jonassen's death approached on Wednesday.

According to NBC Philadelphia, the robbery occurred in northeast Philly, and Burgess has since been grappling with the insensitive nature of the theft because while she lost cash and other items the loss of the urn that holds no intrinsic monetary value yet holds the irreplaceable remains of her dad pitches the soul into a particular kind of darkness, especially since Jonassen was fondly remembered through their shared love for the open road and rock music.

Amidst her turmoil, Haley Ann Burgess told 6abc, "They left the picture. They left this. This is probably worth more than the urn," noting the absurdity that the thieves had taken the urn along with loose change and money. The urn, a dark gray vessel adorned with three silver rings, didn't carry the allure of wealth but it was the keeper of memories, fueling her disbelief and a painful quest for answers.

While scouring the block for hours in search of the urn, leftover from the gaping void left by her father's sudden passing in 2019, Burgess learned that her neighbors too had fallen prey to vehicle break-ins. Despite no surveillance footage available she has filed a report with the authorities and hopes for the ashes' return, saying, "It has no monetary value. It's my dad's ashes. It's all I have left of him." Police are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward as the bereaved daughter holds on to the hope of a conscience-stricken thief or an observant neighbor who can bring what's quintessentially a part of her home.