ST. GABRIEL — Nearly two months after her specially equipped car and custom wheelchair were stolen, one person has now been arrested and deputies continue looking for two others. Meanwhile, the victim, a St. Gabriel woman, is still fighting her insurance companies to move on with her life. Kristie Mascerella’s car was discovered in a junkyard after it was stolen from her driveway in the middle of the night this May.
Jaron Collins, 19, of Baton Rouge, was arrested and charged with theft of motor vehicle. Deputies are still searching for Jereme Thomas & Calvin James, Jr., both 19-years-old. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office at 225-687-3553.
Meanwhile, Mascerella is currently fighting the insurance companies to get the money to replace both her car and wheelchair. To prove she actually still needed a wheelchair, insurance made her go to the physical therapist.
“They required that I go to a physical therapy appointment to prove that I need a wheelchair, which is absolutely ridiculous, because Spina Bifida does not go away.”
Now the therapist is going to have options for Mascerella to pick a new chair that will be as inexpensive and lightweight as possible.
However, it won’t be anything like her old, personalized chair that was stolen from out of her car. Her previous chair is worth between $10,000 and $15,000.
“What I’m having to do is, I had to go to the therapy appointment and then have to get fitted for another chair. Then they have to submit it to Humana to see what part they’re going to pay. And then State Farm will determine if they’ll pay what would be my ‘out of pocket expense.’”
While a friend started a GoFundMe for Mascerella that has brought in over $10,000, donations have slowed down now. She still hopes that it might be enough to pay for a new chair, though.
Mascerella is also continuing to pay insurance on her Dodge Challenger, even though it was found as a shell at a junkyard and is no longer in her possession. The insurance company has not yet determined an amount to give her for the car, either, she said. Each time they’ve sent her a “final offer,” it’s lower than the previous amount, and according to an itemized list, the insurance company determined the car’s motor, tires and transmission were worth $0.
However, those items were missing from the car when it was finally located in West Baton Rouge Parish.
“How can they put a dollar amount on the three most expensive parts of my car as ‘zero’ when those parts weren’t there for them to even tell me that there’s a zero balance, but yet they can tell me how much my radio and my leather seats were worth?”
She said the entire experience has been a “complete disaster” and she feels like she’s been treated as the criminal in the situation. She even found out that she had flags on her driver’s license for not turning in the license plate for the stolen car.
“It’s like my life is like a really bad country song. My car is gone, my gun is gone, my chair is gone. I just had to put my (14-year-old) dog down,” Mascerella told UWK.
The situation is now in the insurance commissioner’s hands, she said. “I am mentally and physically exhausted. I’ve cried myself to sleep for the last several weeks. I feel like I am being punished by my own insurance company because this has happened and it is not fair.”
Mascerella does have a Jeep that is normally for when she’s with her son or other family, but now it’s her everyday ride for work. She said it’s difficult to get in and out of the Jeep since it’s higher off the ground, which is another reason she’s looking for a cheap, lighter option for a new wheelchair. Getting it in and out of the Jeep will not be as easy as it was before, she said.
Right now, her priorities are getting a new wheelchair and putting a fence up at her home because since the burglary, she feels unsafe at home.
However, despite the multiple setbacks, Mascerella says she still is blown away by the generosity from strangers and people she may never be able to personally thank for their gift.
“I’m so thankful, though, for all the people that have donated. This GoFundMe has been a blessing. But some of these people are donating anonymously and I’ll never be able to thank them. Somebody donated $3,500 to me, and I can’t believe that somebody would do that for me.”
To donate to Mascerella’s GoFundMe, visit this link.
Update May 21, 2025
A St. Gabriel woman is devastated after her specially equipped Dodge Challenger, along with the custom wheelchair she relies on every day, was stolen from her driveway in the middle of the night. The shell of her car was found recently in a Port Allen junkyard, another devastating blow.
For Kristie Mascerella, the car wasn’t just transportation, it represented independence, perseverance, and a dream realized after years of medical hardship.
The West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office contacted her to tell her they had located her car.
“All I can say is that I am completely devastated and extremely heartbroken,” Mascerella told UWK. “I couldn’t stop crying when I saw pictures of my car and the way that they left it.”
DONATE NOW: Click here
The burglary occurred just after midnight earlier in May.
“It was 12:30 a.m., and I had no idea anyone was outside until I heard my car crank. My car is loud; it’s a Dodge Challenger Hellcat,” she explained. “I jumped up, but by the time I got outside, it was too late. They were already gone.”
The vehicle had been specially modified for Mascerella, who was born with spina bifida. When it was stolen, her custom-made wheelchair, which she uses daily at work and in public, was still inside. The car’s passenger-side window had been shattered, and the wheelchair was resting on the front seat.
“They could have at least left my chair,” she said. “They stole my chair, and my little handgun in there. I have a concealed carry license.”
For Mascerella, both the Challenger and her wheelchair represent more than just physical tools, they are symbols of her resilience. After spending time in and out of the hospital for kidney issues, she set her sights on a dream: owning a Hellcat and participating in Cruising the Coast, an event she had always loved.
Once she was well enough to return home, she pursued that dream.
“I’m a single mom. I worked and worked and worked and saved until I got my car, only to have it taken away in a matter of minutes,” she said.
Despite security footage from nearby homes identifying those responsible, she says law enforcement has yet to make any arrests. Police have also warned her that the chances of recovering her car or any of the belongings inside are slim.
“They said that more than likely, it’s in a million pieces by now,” Mascerella said earlier in the week.
Although her insurance will cover the value of the stolen car, it will not reimburse her for the loss of her custom wheelchair, the handgun, or the specialized modifications she paid for out of pocket.
That’s why her friends have put together a GoFundMe to help pay for a new wheelchair.
Mascerella is currently using an old wheelchair to get around, but it’s far from ideal. Losing the customized chair has taken a toll, emotionally and physically. The chair, only two years old, was designed specifically for her needs and comfort.
An avid LSU fan, Mascerella had the wheelchair decked out with LSU’s signature purple and gold, including matching wheel spokes. The chair could fold down and be taken apart for transport, perfect for storing in her car.
She estimates the wheelchair cost nearly $10,000, not including the special gel cushion for long-term sitting, which added another $500.
With little hope of her wheelchair being returned, Mascerella is feeling like her faith in humanity is waning.
“This has just set me back. I have no words.”
To help Mascerella get a new wheelchair, visit the GoFundMe.
Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area.
Support UWK and its mission to deliver The News You Deserve. Unfiltered. Become a monthly patron on Patreon today!
