Colorado has seen its share of strange and troubling crimes over the years, but one recent case unfolding in Pueblo has struck a particularly painful nerve. It’s the kind of incident that leaves both a family and law enforcement shaken. Not because of what was damaged or destroyed, but because of what is now missing. At first glance, it looks like a routine break-in. The deeper details, however, tell a far more heartbreaking story.
The incident occurred in northeast Pueblo, where surveillance cameras recorded two individuals stepping out of a black vehicle parked near a home on Brothers Lane. In broad daylight on January 21, the pair moved with urgency, heading straight for the residence. Police say the suspects forced their way inside by breaking through a sliding glass door, remained inside for a short period, and then fled before anyone could intervene.
According to the KRDO13 Colorado Springs News YouTube, the homeowner returned, and the scene inside the house immediately felt wrong. This wasn’t the aftermath of a chaotic burglary. There was no sign of drawers dumped out or rooms torn apart. High-value electronics and jewelry were still right where they belonged. Instead, one deeply personal item was gone along with a few things of little monetary worth.
Colorado Family Left Grieving All Over Again
The stolen item was an urn containing the cremated remains of Geraldine Sierra’s father, Patrick Sierra. He had died last year following a battle with cancer. According to Sierra, the loss of the urn reopened wounds that were still raw. She has described her father as her closest companion, someone she spoke with daily until his death.
In addition to the urn, the burglars took a small number of other items, including some purses and a few pairs of her son’s jeans. The selective nature of what was taken has left both the family and investigators struggling to understand why this home was targeted and for what purpose.
Detectives with the Pueblo Police Department say this does not appear to be a random crime. Officers responded after Sierra reported the break-in, but the suspects were already gone. No arrests have been made so far.
Sierra has since made a heartfelt appeal through the media and to law enforcement: “Return my father’s ashes.”
Police Believe the Crime Was Targeted
What stands out to investigators is how the suspects moved through the home. Police believe they had some awareness of the layout and went directly to the bedroom where the urn was kept, bypassing other rooms entirely. While authorities have stopped short of confirming that the ashes themselves were the goal, the fact that valuables were ignored strongly suggests intent rather than chance.
Sierra has made one simple request through law enforcement and local media: the return of her father’s remains. There is no demand for punishment, no call for explanations. Only a hope that whoever took the urn will recognize the gravity of what they did and give her family the chance to properly honor and remember a loved one.
This case also surfaces against a broader backdrop that makes it even more unsettling. Colorado has faced multiple high-profile incidents in recent years involving mishandled bodies and cremated remains. Authorities have uncovered cases ranging from improperly stored bodies to families receiving ashes that were not those of their loved ones. Some of these discoveries have occurred in Pueblo itself, prompting public outrage and calls for reform within the funeral industry.
As police continue searching for answers, this Pueblo burglary stands out not for violence or destruction. But for its emotional impact. The theft of cremated remains crosses a line that goes far beyond property crime. For one Colorado family, it has turned grief into anguish. For investigators, it remains a haunting mystery that demands resolution.
Dylan Cook 
Kendra Quinn 
