WASHINGTON 鈥� A hardworking couple who scrimped and saved for their daughter鈥檚 college tuition聽is asking for the public’s help in finding the person聽who allegedly stole it 鈥� all $10,000 of it.
The couple is still holding out hope that the supposed thief becomes聽a good Samaritan and returns the tuition money.
Maria Esteves, who cleans houses for a living, and her husband, who is a painter, that they were taking their 18-year-old daughter, Lili Ferrufino, to Penn State on Jan. 10 when they stopped at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 6138 Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church, Virginia for breakfast.
But when the family walked out, Esteves left聽her purse on the back of the chair at the restaurant. Inside the purse was her daughter’s college tuition money.
The family had only gone a few blocks from Dunkin’ Donuts before realizing the costly mistake. But when they returned, they were devastated to find that the purse was gone.
Ferrufino says she wants the female聽seen on surveillance video to know that her parents worked hard for that money.
鈥淚 just hope I get to see her and ask, why,” she says.
Ferrufino is still hoping the woman comes forward.
Meanwhile, Fairfax County police are hoping the public can help identify the聽female聽in the video.
Police say she left in a dark-colored SUV that is likely聽聽a 2009 to 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor. The suspect is described as being in her 30s, about 5-feet, 7-inches tall with long, brown hair. She was seen wearing聽a light-colored jacket and dark-colored pants at the time of the theft.
Anyone with information is being asked to call Crime Solver 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or call Fairfax County Police at 703 691-2131. Also you can text 鈥淭IP187鈥� plus your message to CRIMES (274637).
