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Denise Piper / Things
Julia and Jason Tapp have lost precious photos of their dead son, as well as tools that they were going to use to help the community.
A couple who have dedicated their lives to helping the community are devastated by a robbery that has stolen the precious memories of their late son.
Julia and Jason Tapp’s home near Whangārei was broken into last week. Among the items that the thieves took are a hard drive with precious photos of her son Ezra and a pounamu brick that will be engraved in his memory.
Ezra, who had severe autism, died in 2014 at age 3 after escaping through a child-proof fence and drowning in a nearby river.
After his death, the Tapp donated their organs to help other young people.
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Julia Tapp said she felt violated to find Ezra’s organ donation papers dumped at her home in the robbery, along with her hair and ashes from her memorial closet.
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Ezra Tapp, 3, was mute and autistic. He escaped from a childproof fence before drowning in a nearby river.
“There were statues of angels and feathers. Anyone would have to be a fool not to realize that it is a commemorative wardrobe for a child. “
The robbery was the latest in a series of tragedies for the family: Northland floods damaged their non-profit business in Whangārei Town Basin and their home near Portland was later ruined by septic tank sewage, damaged in the same floods.
The Tapp’s and their three other children were living in emergency shelter when the robbery occurred sometime between Wednesday and Sunday night, and neighbors saw a white van for a couple of nights.
Denise Piper / Things
Julia Tapp offers a custom paint job, like this one, to anyone who receives their precious son’s photos returned.
Julia Tapp offers a free custom paint job worth thousands of dollars to anyone who returns the hard drive with the photos of Ezra and his pounamu.
But even if those personal items are returned, the community will be disappointed.
That’s because the Tapp’s run the Northland Arts Center in Ezra’s memory, offering subsidized art lessons for kids with special needs and adults who need a break.
Denise Piper / Things
Julia Tapp is grateful to have her son Ezra’s baby feet tattooed on hers with some of his ashes, as it was one of the few things that was not violated in the robbery.
The couple had planned to expand their services to offer free angel castings (hand and foot sculptures) to parents who lost their children.
But they stole the necessary miter saw and belt sander, along with the items used to offer music therapy to children.
“Those molds [made of Ezra after he died] It has been the most precious thing for us, ”said Julia Tapp. “They have taken a lot more than they think.”
Anyone with information on the hard drive and pounamu can contact the Tapps at [email protected] or 021-252-4318.
Northland Police also encourage anyone who knows anything about the robbery to call 105 and quote file number 201006/2553.
Donations for the angel casting service can be made at 03-0498-0050960-000 with “angel” for reference.
