A family is heartbroken after a someone stole a tree that had sentimental value off their property in downstate Illinois.
Mary and Mike Biros, of Eureka, noticed that the tree was missing on Thanksgiving morning.
Nothing was left but a stump cut close to the ground. The tree was a gift that the couple planted to remember their son Nigel after he passed away 12 years ago, and they say it was irreplaceable.
"I don't want anyone to replace the tree. You can't replace it, it had sentimental value," Mary said. "I couldn't believe somebody did that."
She took to Facebook in an attempt to find the thief, posting a photo of the stump and offering a reward for information that leads to the culprit. [[403678036, C]]
"Whoever stole the 12ft blue spruce evergreen from our property I hope you have a Merry Christmas," Mary wrote in a post that has since been shared more than 23,000 times.
The family guesses that the thief is using it as a Christmas tree. They say they'll plant another, but put it closer to their home this time.
