A Latter-day Saint family’s long-planned summer road trip took a difficult turn in Portland, Oregon, when someone stole their family van from a hotel parking lot while they slept. According to a KSL report by Alex Cabrero, Jerom and Cassidy Nelson had packed six of their children into a 12-passenger van for what they hoped would be a meaningful family vacation before several major changes came for their family.
Cassidy Nelson told KSL that the timing made the trip especially important to them. “We have six kids here with us, and we have a daughter starting college and two daughters going on mission,” she said. “So, this was going to be our last, last hurrah trip before our family scatters.”
Everything They Needed
The Nelson family had packed nearly everything they needed for their trip into the van. KSL reported that the vehicle carried camping gear, luggage, backpacks, beach equipment, bikes, a stroller and a car seat, along with other belongings.
Jerom Nelson described the packed vehicle as a “mini traveling city.” For a family of eight on the road, the van carried more than vacation supplies; it carried the practical pieces that helped them travel, care for younger children, and keep their plans moving.
The family stopped at a hotel in Portland last Thursday evening and tried to protect the belongings they knew might draw attention. “We knew our bikes would be a target,” Cassidy Nelson told KSL. “So, we had them locked with a locking hitch and backed up against, like, a fence.”
During the night, however, the person or people responsible did not take only the bikes. Hotel security video showed someone driving away with the entire van while the Nelson family slept inside the hotel.
A Surreal Morning
The next morning began with the ordinary rhythm of a family vacation. The Nelsons took their children down to breakfast, then looked outside and realized the van no longer sat where they had parked it.
“We went down to breakfast with all of our kids and looked out the window and our van was gone,” Cassidy Nelson told KSL. Jerom Nelson said he asked, “Did you move the van? That’s where we parked it, right? Did you move it?”
Jerom Nelson said he had not moved it, and the family struggled to understand what had happened. “It was kind of surreal for like, 10 minutes,” he told KSL. “We just couldn’t figure out what happened.”
The theft took not only the family’s transportation, but also the items they had carefully packed for their trip. KSL reported that the Portland Police Bureau now has an active investigation into the case.
The Personal Losses
Jerom Nelson told KSL that one of the hardest parts came from knowing the thief or thieves could see that the van belonged to a family. “They could see that there’s a car seat in there. We got all kids stuff. We got kids bikes back there,” he said. “Like, that’s just heartless, you know?”
Cassidy Nelson also pointed to the smaller personal losses that carried deep meaning for her children. “It is really sad,” she said. “Our boys earned money. They’ve worked for a year to earn money for these lacrosse sticks and those are in there.”
She told KSL that the items likely held little value for the people who took them. “It’s not worth anything to the people who took our car, but it’s worth so much to our family,” she said. “That’s the part that’s really sad.”
The GoFundMe campaign organized by Brittany Stevens also described the loss of bikes, paddle boards, a loading rack, luggage and objects of sentimental value. Stevens wrote that the theft left the family without many of the things they needed for the trip and for daily life.
Choosing to Keep Going
The Nelson family did not return home after the theft. KSL reported that they rented another van and continued their vacation.
Cassidy Nelson said her mother helped shape that decision with a phone call the next day. “I just keep thinking, this is the time you show your kids that bad things happen, and you keep going,” Cassidy recalled her mother saying.
Her mother also told her, “You’re not going to let it stop you. And if you go home, you’re just going to be sad.” Cassidy told KSL that the family chose to keep going because they wanted their children to understand that hard moments do not have to define them.
Jerom Nelson kept the family’s safety and togetherness at the center of his response. “Material things don’t really matter in the end of things, you know?” he said. “We’re all safe. We’re all together. So that’s what’s most important.”
A Community Responds
A family friend created a GoFundMe campaign titled “Help a Family Recover from Road Trip Theft” to help the Nelson family recover from the loss. The fundraiser identifies the family as the Nelson-Malufau family and describes them as “a family of 8” whose road trip “was meant to be a time of adventure and bonding.”
Stevens wrote that the family members are “the most generous and giving people you will ever meet.” She also wrote that they “never miss a chance to help someone in need and go above and beyond for those in their community.”
According to the fundraiser, donations would help the family return home, buy a new family car, replace bikes and paddle boards, purchase new lacrosse gear and other essentials, and cover the costs of getting home safely. The campaign also invited people to share the fundraiser if they could not donate.
In an update, Stevens said supporters had already helped the campaign reach and exceed its goal. “We cannot believe the outpouring of love and support from all of you!!” she wrote.
The Help That Came
Stevens described the emotional contrast between the theft and the response that followed. “When this whole thing started we saw the worst in people and now we are seeing the best in humanity,” she wrote.
She also noted that while only a few people may have taken the van, many more people stepped forward to help. “It might have been 2 or 3 people who stole the van but now it is 50 plus people who have saved the day,” she wrote.
The fundraiser update ended with gratitude for the people who donated, shared and supported the family. “Thank you so so so so much!” Stevens wrote. “Words cannot describe the relief and gratitude we feel.”
The Nelson family still faces the practical work of replacing what they lost and recovering from a painful disruption. But thanks to the support of friends, neighbors and others who responded, they do not have to carry that burden alone.
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As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to bear one another’s burdens and lighten life’s load. Through The Giving Corner, we highlight families who could use a helping hand, giving you an opportunity to serve in love. LDS Daily shares these stories to promote charitable efforts within the Latter-day Saint community. We do not endorse or verify the authenticity of each fundraiser, and we encourage readers to use their best judgment when donating.
Share your prayers and thoughts of support for the Nelson family in the comments below!
Holly Wallace is a writer and storyteller drawn to meaningful questions and overlooked details. Her work explores Latter-day Saint life and culture through faithful inquiry, inviting readers to pause, consider, and engage more deeply with what matters most.
This has restored my trust in humanity. Good for them!