Valley family heartbroken after belongings, wedding ring vanishes from mortuary

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - A Valley family is searching for answers after they say belongings of their beloved family member went missing.

The family says that their loved one had a wedding ring, phone, charger, and dentures on at the time of her death. But when they went to pick up her belongings, they were nowhere to be found.

"She was all I knew," said David Cobble.

Cobble is in tears, not only mourning the loss of his wife of more than 50 years, but the ring that resembled the love of him and his beloved Nelda.

The family says that in February, Nelda was admitted into the Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center due to stomach pain. She died three days later of colon cancer. It wasn't until three weeks later when they were picking up her ashes that they realized something worse.

"[My daughter] opened the bag up in the funeral home and said, 'This is not all my mother's stuff,' Cobble said. "This is all I got."

Her ring, cell phone, charger, and dentures - missing.

"That ring would never come off," said Cobble. "I bought her a $5,000 wedding ring she wouldn't wear because she was afraid she would lose the diamond - she wore a cheap ring like that."

Fox 10 sat down with the owner of the South Mountain Mortuary off camera. During that time, he showed us paperwork given to him from the hospital - none of the items mentioned or listed on the documents.

In a statement, he says, "When Mrs. Cobble was picked up, she had to plastic bags with her, both given to the family and they have done everything they can including calling the hospital to find the items. But I was told that the hospital doesn't itemize belongings."

So, we reached out to the hospital.

In a statement, they said, "Our processes were followed with clear and concise documentation that the belongings were with the body when transferred to the mortuary. The belongings included upper and lower dentures, a yellow band ring, and a cell phone with a charger. The mortuary has confirmed receipt of the belongings."

But again, the mortuary says none of those items were listed, despite what the hospital said. When we asked for a follow-up of protocols and logs of everyone who comes in contact with deceased individuals, we were met with unanswered emails from the hospital.

"I wish someone would find it in their heart to give it back or turn it into the police," Cobble said. "It won't do them no good. It's tearing me up. I can't sleep."

Mr. Cobble tells me that he is aware that the wedding band isn't worth a lot of money - but it resembles something that is irreplaceable to him - his wife and his union.

If you happen to see the ring or any other items, please contact the Phoenix Police.