Thief Steals Car, Prosthetic Legs From Florida Army Veteran

tampa.cbslocal.com ^ | January 4, 2012

[grundle]

MIAMI (CBS Tampa) – An Army veteran who has lived the last 20 years of his life in a wheelchair had his car stolen with his prosthetic legs and wheelchair mount inside the car.

Armando Fontaine, 71, lost his legs about 20 years ago due to an infection, rendering him to full-time use of his wheelchair in order to get around. On Monday night, his 1996 Nissan Sentra, which was parked right outside his Miami home, was stolen. But the stolen car is even more devastating for Fontaine as his prosthetic legs and wheelchair mount were inside the car, making it impossible for him to leave his home

“We parked the car at night,” Fontaine told CBS Tampa. “When my wife woke up, the car had disappeared.

“Now, I have to pray they can find that car.”

Blind in one eye, Fontaine is taken to the hospital every week for treatment by his wife, Marta. Fontaine said that with his condition, he can’t afford to miss hospital appointments.

Additional information on the case has yet to be made available by Miami-Dade Police.

While the Fontaines remain hopeful that the car will be returned, the wait is unbearable.

“I am frightened,” the Army veteran said. “They need to find that car. I need it very badly because I cannot move.”

[HiTech RedNeck]

Hopefully even a thief will have a heart.

[Ronin]

We can hope, anyhow.

[JRandomFreeper]

I pray that he gets both his legs and his car back. And the thief gets time.

That said... I did go out to my car and take my teeth out of the console after I read this. I should really keep them in my pocket, where they belong.

/johnny

[ConorMacNessa]

I find myself at a loss for words in the face of such mindless cruelty to one of our disabled vets. He gave all he had and a necessary tool for his well-being was taken from him by someone who probably has no concept of the damage he has done. The perpetrator of this act is beneath contempt.

Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

[GBA]

I hope he has some insurance. Otherwise, that man would benefit from some anonymous donations to help him restore his stolen mobility. Evil should be countered by a greater good.

[Texas Fossil]

When they find the perps, lets avoid the usual punishment phase.

Send him to a Special Forces unit for a few weeks. Then they could pick up the hamburger left to put in prison for a long time.

[Rannug]

Maybe in your mouth? Where they belong? :-)

[Rennes Templar]

Reminds me of Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, when they came upon the empty cabin and found a wooden peg leg. Tom said they looked around but couldn’t find the other...