Oak Forest Woman Seeks Lost Cell Phone Containing Photos of Late Brother

Photo: Lori (left), with her family and brother Paul.

Lori Ward wishes people could be honest and do the right thing.

The Oak Forest woman lost her cell phone Wednesday while shopping at a JCPenney store in Orland Park, but it’s not the loss of the new, white iPhone 6 that she’s worried about—it’s the photos and a message inside it.

The cell phone holds her most recent memories of her brother Paul, who died May 24 after a battle with cancer.

“The thing that just breaks my heart is I have a message from my brother on it,” Ward said. “I could care less about the phone, I just want my pictures and one last phone message.”

Paul Ritter was a beloved member of the Oak Forest community, and a devoted coach of Oak Forest Warriors Wrestling Club. His death sent grief rippling through the organization and the city. Just last week, nearly 500 people bid him a final farewell.

“I really could care less about the phone part, it’s just what I have on it,” Ward said, of the phone.

Some might say her plight is hopeless. But one south suburban woman was recently reunited with her lost iPad that contained photos of her late infant daughter, after her persistent messages to the device and the current owner’s attempt to extort $300 from her. Still, the iPad ended up back in the right hands.

“Why can’t people just be honest and turn things in?” Ward wondered.

Anyone with information about the phone is asked to call 708-687-8806.