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Military family gets furniture back, $10,000 check after reaching out to Contact7

Posted at 6:40 PM, Aug 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-22 20:59:55-04

Editor's note: Contact7 seeks out audience tips and feedback to help people in need, resolve problems and hold the powerful accountable. If you know of a community need our call center could address, or have a story idea for our investigative team to pursue, please email us at contact7@thedenverchannel.com or call (720) 462-7777. Find more Contact7 stories here.

AURORA, Colo. -- We have a follow-up to a Contact7 story we brought you on Monday, after a veteran family reached out to us holding a moving company responsible for destroying thousands of dollars worth of items and keeping them in the dark for eight months about how that came to pass. 

Marine veteran Sgt. Keith Scofield and his wife Melissa reached out to Contact7 Monday after a nightmarish move from North Carolina to Aurora. A year ago, the Iraq war veteran had been medically discharged from the Marines. Movers with Florida-based "Total Military Management" lost or destroyed more than $10,000 worth of their personal items. Eight months later there had been no resolution.

After our story ran, things began to change for the family. We caught up with Sgt. Scofield on Wednesday, as he checked off a long lost furniture items that movers were finally delivering to his home.

“(We're) very grateful to you and 7 News. Just with your backing this came to fruition. Very grateful; can't say it enough," Sgt. Scofield told Denver7.

“These military families risk their lives. They give up their lives to fight for our country. This shouldn't ever happen,” said Melissa Scofield.

“The response and how we were handled with the company was tremendously better," said Sgt. Scofield. “They were incredibly fast. Faster than I ever thought they could be.” 

On Tuesday, Contact7 spoke by phone with managers of the moving company. To their credit, Total Military Management  took full responsibility for the mess, and located the missing items. 

“It’s just crazy. It feels like a boulder has been lifted from our shoulders,” said Scofield.

Total Military Management also delivered a $10,000 check to the family to cover their expenses over the past few months.

“We appreciate Sgt. Scofield and his wife's sacrifice and service,” said JP Pennington with Total Military Management. “We deeply regret the inconvenience and hardship Sgt. Scofield and his wife Melissa have experienced, and we won't stop until they are satisfied.” 

Sgt. Scofield says he's hoping his story will prevent similar moving problems for his fellow veterans. He and Melissa are extremely grateful to Contact7.

“First and foremost, thank you. Thank you very much,” Sgt. Scofield.

“This would never have happened without your guys help,” said Scofield. We can't thank you enough.”