An Indiana family is hoping to recover their deceased son’s guitar, which was pawned by a friend last year. A family friend is offering a reward to anyone finding the instrument.
Mark Allen Cain died on Nov. 25, 2011, in a dirt bike accident, two days after his 13th birthday. Mark's passions were dirt bikes and guitars, his father, Seth Cain of Columbus, told WTHR. Mark's prized possession was an Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar.
Two years ago, Cain and his wife were looking for a house, and he told WXIN that they put most of their possessions in storage. Cain's best friend said he would store Mark's guitars, including the Les Paul, but when it came time to retrieve it, the man said he sold the instrument to Columbus Pawn Shop in late October, 2015.
"I've contacted along with friends and family every pawn/guitar shop in the area with no luck,” Cain told WTHR. “Tried filing a police report and was told it happened too long ago and it was probably gone forever.”
Cain said his son was “proud” he had bought the guitar with his own money.
"The reason it was so special was all his other guitars were presents,” Cain told WTHR. “This was a guitar that he paid for with the money he earned.”
Cain told WXIN that a family friend is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of the guitar. He also said he would reimburse whoever bought the guitar.
"They bought it in good faith,” he told WTHR. “I just need it back.
"It's devastating to lose a child. It's salt in a wound to have a close friend steal his belongings."
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