A single father was left in shock after a close family member reportedly sold his children’s Christmas presents for drugs right before the holiday.
Authorities from the Van Buren Sheriff’s Department reported that a man named Donald Lucas Sr., 62, from Paw Paw, Michigan, allegedly stole gifts intended for his four grandchildren. He reportedly took these presents, which were bought through the county’s Shop with the Sheriff program, and exchanged them for methamphetamine.
Lucas Sr. was arrested by the narcotics unit during a meth investigation. His son, Don Lucas Jr., who is also a father of four, expressed his heartache over the situation. “I was crying. I couldn’t believe someone would take gifts meant for the kids,” he told a local news outlet.
The total value of the stolen gifts is reported to be more than $1,000. Lucas Sr. had been welcomed to his family’s home for a few days during the holiday season, which made the betrayal even harder to understand.
Sheriff’s officials stated that Lucas Sr. did not cooperate with efforts to recover the stolen gifts. However, thanks to the community’s support, Lucas Jr.’s children are set to have a merry holiday. The county managed to gather funds and gift cards to repurchase new presents for the family.
Community members, along with local schools and organizations, came together to make sure the children did not miss out on Christmas. They took the family on a shopping spree to ensure the holiday was memorable. Lucas Jr. expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, and Merry Christmas. It’s amazing how many people stepped up to help us.”
Each child received more than $500 worth of new gifts. The sheriff’s office had previously announced plans to assist five families facing difficulties in finding Christmas gifts this year, with funds raised from local events being used to support those in need.
