Ohio couple's house robbed while woman gave birth

12/9/2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio war veteran and his fiancee say thieves broke into their home and stole Christmas presents and other items while they were at a hospital for their baby's birth.

A relative called Tom Sheehan and Tonya Verduga after finding their house in a shambles, WBNS-TV reported. The couple's son was born Tuesday night.

TVs, a laptop, jewelry and Christmas presents the couple had bought for Verduga's two sons from a previous marriage were all stolen, Sheehan said.

Sheehan, who returned in August from his third tour of duty in Iraq, told WBNS he and Verduga had bought their Christmas presents early in anticipation of the baby's birth but had not wrapped them.

“They left the wrapping paper, just nothing to wrap,” Sheehan said. “That's just a terrible thing to do.”

Sheehan is angry but said he just wants to get the house clean for the baby and get “Christmas back in line for the boys.”

Columbus police are investigating, the television station reported. A message was left for police Thursday.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3320 in Marysville is collecting gifts for the family, the post's canteen manager, Linda Maynard, said Thursday.