Help Recover Belongings for Grieving Family

On May 10th 2025, my 12 year old son, Jackson's mother was tragically killed in a hit and run.

https://www.mcgeehanfh.com/obituaries/Melissa-Spitler?obId=42509182&fbclid=IwY2xjawKd2glleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETE5T1Q2YVR4UWxqWVhTcDlNAR4-3ZWZneMUS3LHeG2n6Vyc4vU-93nkKKLbtuvWu_RUqFv7jCSjPCeEfV2Z-g_aem_VoqOOIg_RLxARArCLic6CA

So far, nobody has come forward with any information on the monster that did it. This is one of those things you experience in life that blindsides you. My son, her family and all of her friends are completely in shock and it's going to take a long time to come to terms with it all. My son now lives with me full time and seems to be doing well (thanks to having a lot of great friends for support).

Since that moment, it has been a non-stop barrage of "what next?". All of his personal possessions are being kept from him (and his two older siblings) by a landlord who has (illegally) locked him out of his home in what I can only assume is an attempt to get money from the estate. The police, were on board at first and agreed to dispatch a peace officer so that we could get the house cleaned out. We arranged to have a bunch of people show up for the "move". Unfortunately, when I spoke with the dispatched officer that morning, he backed out and said we'd have to take it to court. "It's a civil matter." Yeah, I get it.... liability and all that but this now forces us to set up an estate, probate, etc and spend a bunch of money in order to get what already belongs to him and his siblings. All of this nonsense to deal with an estate that probably isn't worth 10k. But of course all of their possessions with sentimental value, clothing, etc are being held hostage. I actually had to go buy clothing for my son to wear to his mother's funeral.

I am hoping to raise enough to take care of the legal stuff and with any luck, recover everything in the house that belongs to my son and his brother and sister. I will also work with my attorney to see what can be done to deal with the heartless #@%^* landlord. If anything is left over, it will be going to a trust which was set up for my son by a friend of the family. Thank you for anything you can do to help.

-Dave