Stockton Police and genealogy expert hope they can return found memories to family – CBS Sacramento

STOCKTON (CBS13) – Officers are trying to find the rightful owner or family of a stash of World War II photos and letters found in Stockton this week.

Officers found more than 150 photographs and letters on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Stockton Police Department said.

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“These are photos, but there are also precious moments captured in time,” said Rosie Calderon, Community Services Officer with the Stockton Police Department.

The items were found by a community services officer after a service call on St. Andrews Drive on Tuesday.

“What we do know is that a male subject gave up on a bag – probably didn’t see value in it,” Calderon said.

The find included a three-page love letter to Mary Ellen Driscoll.

Officers say it appears the woman also used the names of Williams, Metcalf, Bohannon, Henderson and Andrews.

Police are now searching for the woman’s family, photos of which were posted on the police department’s Facebook page.

“They really enjoyed them. So I think their return would be something that would make them really happy, ”Calderon said.

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One of those people who commented on the ministry’s Facebook post about the discovery was Traci Gregg, who is doing her part to help locate Mary’s family members.

“I have the experience of finding people in similar situations,” said Gregg.

Gregg told CBS13 that she has been doing genealogy for 20 years.

“I brought together a lot of adoptees and biological families. And, while doing genealogy, I even found people in my own family that I didn’t know existed, ”said Gregg.

She hopes to use her skills to bring these memories back to Mary and her family.

“It would only be one piece of the puzzle the family would have. And, you know, I hope they’re the type who want to pass it on to their generations, ”said Gregg.

These are words on a page and moments that last forever that some hope to put back into the hands of family.

“It feels good to locate items that would likely have been thrown in the trash or destroyed and hopefully return them to their rightful owner or their family,” Calderon said.

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Anyone who recognizes Mary or knows a family member is asked to call Stockton Police at (209) 937-8377.