Woman Reunited with Engagement Ring Stolen after Easter

Three white feathers were found over the course of the last week as local mother Susan Block fought back worry over a stolen engagement ring presented to her by her late husband in 2006.

The ring, which was placed in her wallet on Easter Sunday and stolen out from her the following night, was in an invaluable symbol of the love she shared with husband Brandon, who was killed by his sister’s estranged husband in July 2009.

After over a weeklong rollercoaster of uncertainty with the comfort of prayer and support from a community that pulls together in tough times, Susan Block’s phone rang on Monday morning with hopeful news from San Angelo Police Detective Rick Keeling.

“When I got the call from detective Keeling, my prayers immediately went from ‘let’s find the ring’ to ‘let’s hope the ring that was found was mine,’” Block said. “When I put it on and it just went right on my finger and it just felt so comfortable and I knew that it was mine, I wanted to cry so bad. I’m sure my eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas. I was so elated by the outpouring of support and the thoughtfulness and kindness of everyone’s heart toward a situation where they could very easily turn their head because it did not directly affect them.”

Uncertain as to whether she should disclose the value of the ring or images of it publicly, Block waited a few days before posting her story to Facebook, where the images and text spread like wildfire.

Over 800 shares were counted between two posts, while others popped up around the web and was passed in conversation around town. Finally, the story reached the ears of a local jeweler, who was so touched by the sentimental value of the tale that he made an astounding offer.

“Mr. [William] Cano contacted me and had a very heartfelt apology that I was put in the situation I was in. It seemed like he had looked at the pictures of the ring and he had researched the design of it, and he told me he knew it wouldn’t replace the ring that I had…but he mentioned to me that whenever I was ready, if I didn’t get the ring back, he would do his best to design something very similar at his cost,” Block said. Cano owns Cano's Diamonds, 1016 W. Beauregard.

“That to me is just overly thoughtful. When you go through something like I went through, it’s very heartwarming to know that people that don’t know me that only know my story would reach out in a way like that,” she said. “Not just for comfort, ‘if you ever need anything, I’m here,’ but to do his best to replace something that was essentially invaluable to me is just overwhelming almost.”

On the day her husband was murdered, he and Susan were over at his sister’s house in Wall when the estranged husband came in with a firearm. After a dispute over custody, Brian Jones Berry shot and killed Keri Block Berry and her brother, Brandon Block. Susan was also shot and critically injured, but ultimately survived to take care of she and Brandon’s only child together, son Sutton.

Although the two now have only the memory of husband and father, they’ve held on to the memory of Brandon seeking comfort in faith, and asking that God show them signs of support.

“Shortly after my husband passed away, I prayed that God would let him come and comfort me often and leave a white feather behind in showing me that he was there,” Block explained. “I don’t remember what day it was, but in the process of this week and the ring being missing, I found about three white feathers and my mom also found one, so I felt like that was almost a spirtual God thing saying, ‘It will come back to you’…by the grace of God I got it back and it just goes to show how far prayer can get you…”

The white feather symbol is something Block shares with her son, who refers to them as “one of my daddy’s feathers” when he finds one somewhere. They’re significant to both of them, she said, and represent that Brandon is near.

Now that the ring has been recovered, Block plans to keep it secure in a safe or lockbox, waiting for the day her son is old enough to marry so she can pass along the love an memories she associates with the piece of precious metal.

After all she’s been through, however, Block said she wouldn’t have made it far without the help of local law enforcement, who have supported her through tragedy and heartbreak.

“All the experiences I’ve had with our law enforcement through everything I’ve been through…our law enforcement in this town, they really connect themselves on a level that would be almost scary to me,” she said. “And I say scary because you don’t want to put your heart too much into something that you’re not going to necessarily see results out of. Yet, everyone that I’ve come in contact with…just the heartfelt emotions they have is astonishing because of the line of work that they’re in.”

Detective Rick Keeling, who worked the ring theft case and is familiar with its history, said, “It was quite an emotional moment, going through what she’s been through and the sentimental value of this ring when I was able to put it back in the palm of her hand Monday morning. All the bad days that you have in this job, that makes it all worthwhile right there. Not just the monetary aspect of it, but the sentimental aspect was tremendous.”

As of yet, the thief has not been apprehended, but Keeling has developed a person of interest. The investigation is ongoing.