Sign stolen from Mothers Against Drunk Driving office

Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 10:12 am

By: News On 6

A thief with no mercy stole a sign from Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Tulsa. News on six crime reporter Lori Fullbright explains why it was much more than just a sign to one Tulsa family.

Josh Whitney graduated from Tulsa's Bishop Kelly High School where he was on the golf team all four years. He then graduated from OU with a degree in public relations. He had his own apartment, a girlfriend he planned to marry and a good job, but just four months after he graduated, he was killed by a drunk driver.

Joshâ€™s father Dr Mark Whitney: "It's one of those tragedies you never think will affect your family, never be apart of and all of a sudden, it happens to you and you're in shock."

The sister of Josh's girlfriend owns Signs Now and noticed some time back that someone had kicked a hole in MADD's sign. So, she called and offered to donate a new sign to the group, in memory of Josh, his family was thrilled.

That's why everyone was disgusted to find someone had stolen the sign over the weekend. Joshâ€™s mother Sue Whitney: "I just plead you bring it back and realize mothers go through a lot when lost a children and take a sign from an organization that works to change the laws and prevent this from ever happening to another family, what I call out never-ending nightmare, it never ends."

The Whitney's just want the sign back, the folks at MADD want to see the thief charged with a felony. Vicki Roberts with MADD: "Somebody knows where this sign is, it's on somebody's wall or somebody is bragging about it. Maybe somebody saw them messing with it and can give us a better time frame."

Whether it was a statement against the organization or a teenager's prank, this hurting family hopes the sign will be returned, because to them, it's a little piece of their son, who they miss so much.

If anyone has information about the sign, they can call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. You can remain anonymous.