On an ignored piece of landscape in a small, isolated corner of Lehigh Acres, a U.S. Marine bought a house he hoped to turn into a home.
But last April, two months before Lance Cpl. Steven S. Von Soosten could move into that property, duty called.
The 23-year-old was deployed to Iraq.
Now, five months before Von Soosten was to return, someone has ransacked the mauve, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house.
Medals that identify his rank as lance corporal were stolen. Uniforms, military gear and supplies are missing.
All the new furniture Von Soosten bought before he departed was destroyed; the burglars stole all his appliances except the dishwasher.
“The frustrating thing is he’s over there in Iraq, fighting to protect his country from all kinds of things,” said Michael Von Soosten, 25, the Marine’s brother. “For this to happen just adds to the anger.”
The crime also comes just weeks after the home of Von Soosten’s mother, Nancy Gonzalez, was broken into Dec. 6.
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