Shannon Paolini’s boyfriend fatally shot her two-year-old son in 2011. Since then, she’s kept a portion of her son’s ashes, a rosary bead and a bracelet in a small purse.
The purse, containing the keepsakes, was stolen Wednesday morning in the Garden of the Gods area, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office released information Wednesday, including photographs and descriptions of the items, on Facebook, seeking the public’s help in returning the purse to Paolini, who is a sheriff’s office employee.
In a in May 2011, in Fountain, Gammall Perez fatally shot the toddler, Gavin Paolini. He also shot Shannon, five times, before taking his own life.
Information released Wednesday includes photographs of of Shannon, Gavin and a similar type purse.
The bracelet is described as a silver Pandora style, with a heart near the clasp that holds Gavin’s ashes. The bracelet also has a charm with a heart and 2 blue footprints on either side. The back is engraved with “it’s a boy.”
Anyone with information on the items can submit tips anonymously through the sheriff’s mobile app, or call Crime Stoppers at 719 634-STOP (7867).
The sheriff’s office said the items can be dropped off at any police or fire department, “no questions asked.”
“We are only interested in getting these precious items back to Shannon.”
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kierannicholson
