A man accused of stealing a memorial from a Miami Lakes park that honors a 5-year-old boy is out of jail after he posted bond. Jake “Jakey” Duque lost his battle with a rare form of brain cancer in 2020.
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Nearly 24 hours after deputies arrested 27-year-old Derick Coca for stealing a statue honoring 5-year-old Jake Duque from a Miami Lakes park, he was back at his home Thursday, less than a mile from the park. Investigators say he confessed to the theft.
NBC6 tried to speak with him at his home Thursday afternoon, but he did not say anything.
Jake’s parents returned to the park Wednesday night carrying their son’s memorial.
“What we learned from this is that everything is God’s timing,” Karen Duque said. “God is great.”
An arrest report says Karen Duque told investigators she got an anonymous text Wednesday night that someone was going to deliver the statue.
She says then she got another text that someone was going to drop the memorial off at a Miami Lakes home. Investigators say when they got to the house, Coca, his girlfriend, mother and grandmother came out and the statue was outside the garage door in a black bag.
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“The entire time we’ve been faithful and hopeful and giving it to God,” Duque said.
Duque says it’ll be a while before they bring the statue back to the park. She says it is being refurbished right now and they want to make sure no one can ever steal it again. She also says they’re considering putting lights in the park and maybe surveillance.
Jake “Jakey” Duque was just five years old when he lost his battle with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer in 2020. The family unveiled the bronze statue in 2021.
“That never defined him, never defined his joy and faith and he planted so many mustard seeds in the community,” Duque said.
The Duques say they’re grateful and they forgive Coca after they say he took something that means so much to them and the South Florida community.
“No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, and pressing charges doesn’t change anything,” Duque said. “Jakey taught us that life regardless of what obstacles… be kind and that’s why we refuse to press charges.”
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A judge says Coca can’t go back to park.