An eastern Washington man starting cancer treatment in Seattle faced an unexpected blow when his car was stolen and later found crashed into a school fence on the very first day of his medical appointments.
Val Mohney, who now lives in Davenport after more than 25 years in Seattle, had been staying with a friend in Columbia City while beginning treatment for prostate cancer. He said police called him at 6 a.m. Tuesday to report that his vehicle had been found damaged at Dimmitt Middle School, several miles from where it had been parked.
Mohney said his day began with the frustration of learning his car had been stolen and crashed, adding that he was already coping with the stress of his cancer diagnosis. The vehicle suffered major damage, including a destroyed ignition that, in his words, looked like the thief “had taken a grenade” to it.
The theft left Mohney without transportation, something he relies on for his work as a real estate agent. As the sole breadwinner in his household, he explained that if he isn’t earning, there’s no income. Back home, his partner is disabled, and he also spends much of his time caring for his mother, who has dementia.
Despite the setback, Mohney said he is grateful for the strong support network he has, noting that he doesn’t know how people without such a community manage when crises like this happen. His friend, Kristin Dean, is helping him travel back and forth between eastern Washington and Seattle for treatments.
Seattle police are reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the suspect, who remained at large as of Tuesday evening.
Friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Mohney manage both his cancer treatments and the financial strain of replacing his stolen vehicle.
