John Cappelletti, former running back for the Los Angeles Ram and San Diego Chargers, noticed something was missing from his Orange County home.
Maybe it was misplaced, he thought.
Family members and housekeepers did not know the whereabouts of the missing item, and as time went on Cappelletti discovered that family jewelry and sports memorabilia related to his college and professional football career had gone missing.
Specifics as to what items were stolen or how the suspects entered the home around Jan. 20 could not be released because the case is still under investigation, said Joe Amormino, spokesman for Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
However, the case is related to Capelleti’s days at Penn State and his Heisman trophy, Amormino said. Cappelletti is the only Penn State player to receive the prestigious award.
Jewelry worth at least $50,000 was taken from Cappellitti’s home, Amormino said. It is difficult to quantify the value of the stolen sports memorabilia.
“It depends on what someone will pay for it,” Amormino said. “Some of it was personalized to him; a lot of it is irreplaceable.”
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Cappelletti said he may consider posting a reward for the items, which he described as “very personal” and “near and dear to" his heart, according to a statement released through Orange County law enforcement.
It was unclear if Cappelletti was out of town at the time of the break in, or if the unknown suspects targeted his home specifically, Amormino said.
While at Penn State, Cappelletti played under Joe Paterno, who died Jan. 22.
"Cappy is the best player I have ever been around. He is strong, fast, durable and a great leader. You know he is going to come through for you when you need him,” Paterno said of Capelleti.
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