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Peabody Police investigating after 5-year-old’s wheelchair disappears, later recovered

PEABODY, Mass. — Gabriel is 5 years old and has cerebral palsy after he was born weighing just one pound at 25 weeks. Stephanie Degennaro was his nurse at Franciscan Children’s Hospital.

“Gabriel was here as a patient, and so I met him here and fell in love with him. He’s the sweetest, sweetest boy,” Degennaro said.

When Gabriel needed a home, Degennaro and her husband took him in at 18 months and officially adopted him last year.

“So our house isn’t wheelchair accessible, so usually we set up Gabriel’s wheelchair outside and then go back in the house and get his backpack and get him all set up in his chair to wait for his bus,” Degennaro said.

But Monday morning, when the family came back outside, the wheelchair was missing from their driveway. They called Peabody Police, who were quick to respond.

“It’s got to be a tough situation for them every day for what they go through, and just to have the day start off that way,” said Lt. Bill Cook with Peabody Police.

Lt. Cook said one of his first thoughts was to check with someone who collects scrap metal.

“I went right to the residence where that truck was, and sure enough the wheelchair is in the back of the truck, and it’s got the child’s stenciled name on the back of it, an oxygen tank hanging off the back,” Lt. Cook said.

Just a few hours after the wheelchair was taken, police returned it to the family. Now Lt. Cook said they’re trying to figure out who took it and whether it was a mistake or stolen to get money for its parts. If it was stolen, Lt. Cook said that person could face criminal charges.

“Where it was so far into the driveway, I don’t really understand why anyone would think that would be scrap metal,” Lt. Cook said.

Either way, this family is beyond thankful for the quick action by police.

“I mean, it’s his custom wheelchair made just for him, it’s expensive and it’s also his way of accessing the world and accessing school, so we’re definitely happy to have it back,” Degennaro said.