Items of late baby found
EAU CLAIRE — A couple's irreplaceable keepsakes — memories of their baby daughter's short life — have been recovered.
State police found the items this week at the home of the man they suspect stole them in a burglary at Tricia and Bradley Bryan's home in Eau Claire.
It turned out the suspect, 39-year-old Michael Eugene Stewart, is the Bryans' neighbor.
Police on Wednesday arrested Stewart, who allegedly confessed to the crime, investigators said.
District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned him on charges of burglary, trespass, theft and receiving stolen property. He is in the Butler County Prison on $20,000 bail.
Police believe Stewart between Jan. 12 and 14 broke into the Bryans' locked mobile home on Marie Street and took jewelry, electronics and other property. The possessions were valued at $2,000.
But for the Bryans, one of the stolen items was priceless.
That item was a small powder blue box that contained their daughter Molly's blanket, her dress, her birth and death certificates and photographs.
Molly died two hours after her birth on June 22, 2010. Her parents said she was born premature and her lungs were not fully developed.
The Bryans immediately placed a personal advertisement in the Butler Eagle, offering a reward for the return of the box and its contents.
The Eagle on Monday published a story about the theft.
Troopers investigating the burglary traced some of the stolen jewelry to a store in Cranberry Township that buys gold and other valuables.
Police suspect Stewart sold the items at the store. He also allegedly sold other stolen property to a friend.
When troopers went to speak to Stewart, they found him hiding underneath his trailer on Marie Avenue. He was arrested.
Police later found the Bryans' memory box hidden under his kitchen sink.
During an interview Wednesday, Stewart admitted to breaking into the Bryans' house and taking numerous items, according to investigators.
At his arraignment, Stewart told Haggerty that he is disabled and has no job. He said he is engaged and has a 7-year-old child.
The Bryans could not be reached this morning for comment.
