Traveler says stolen trailer in Terre Haute had sentimental items

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​Dear Editor:

My name is Rachel Matkin and I had some things stolen from my car last Monday night ( September 17th) from the Springhill Suites hotel in Terre Haute, Indiana.

I immediately talked to the lady at the hotel and she called the police. I talked to an officer on the phone that morning (5:30 a.m. Tuesday) to file a report. I then called the hotel that afternoon (2ish...and the new lady knew nothing about it). I called the police station again who also knew nothing about it, but did find where I had called. I then waited until around 5 p.m. when the same staff (two "kids"...Calvin and Dee) were there from the night before so I could talk to them. I talked to Calvin, who said he knew nothing about it.

I know that this is car theft and it’s not that important. It probably happens all the time, and I am a stupid lady for leaving the stuff on the trailer on my car. But I was SO tired.
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I was driving from Texas to Michigan after a morning of court to get temporary custody of my granddaughter so that she could move with me to Michigan. It was 10:30 p.m. and I asked the two kids at the front desk if my car would be safe and where I should park it. They told me on the side, so I backed in on the right side of the building where the trailer (small hitch trailer) could not be seen (by anyone). I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to check on it, and it was gone.

Stupid me, I know. However, the stuff that was stolen is very important to me. You see, my 16- year- old daughter died almost five months ago in a car crash and some of the things in those tubs were hers. When I was packing for my move I did not plan on having my granddaughter with me. So I had my dad put a small trailer hitch on the back of my car. But then we got confused on the packing. We did not realize that some of the plastic containers that we put on the back were my daughters things and priceless to me.

There were photo albums and DVDs. My computer was in there, which has years of pictures and videos of my daughter. Another is a small blue/gray lock box that had her birth certificate, and death certificate, and a bracelet made with the flowers from her funeral. There were four plastic tubs in all. Two tan and two a pinkish/ purple. I had hoped and prayed that once they realized the boxes mostly had scrapbooks and craft things they may throw the tubs out on the side of the road or something.

Or maybe the kids at the front desk of the hotel knew something. But it doesn’t seem like anyone has even tried. I’m sorry. I’m a hot mess. I know that it is just “things” but it’s priceless to me, and pictures and memories are all that I have left of her. I don’t know what you could do except maybe put something on Facebook to let people be aware and to be looking for my things. Maybe if people shared it on Facebook something would come up. I don’t know. I’m probably just grasping at straws.

Thank you.
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A bereaved mother,
Rachel Matkin
Mount Pleasant, Texas