Teen Cancer Patient Says Personal Items Were Stolen During Surgery at UC San Diego Hospital

A 17-year-old San Diego cancer patient and her family are asking for answers after personal belongings were reported stolen from her hospital room while she was undergoing surgery at UC San Diego Health in Hillcrest. The family says the incident occurred during a critical and vulnerable moment in the teen’s treatment, raising concerns about patient safety and security inside medical facilities.

The teen, identified by her family as Sahara, was diagnosed several weeks ago with terminal Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. While she was in surgery, her purse containing valuables and sentimental items was taken from her hospital room, according to her sister.

Incident

Sahara’s sister, Kaleena Morquecho, told FOX 5 and KUSI on Monday that the theft happened while Sahara was undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer at UC San Diego Health.

According to Kaleena, the stolen purse contained a wallet, identification, cash, jewelry, and photographs of their late father. The photos, she said, held deep emotional value for her sister during her illness.

After discovering the purse was missing, Kaleena said the family notified hospital staff but felt the situation was not immediately treated as a serious matter.

“We could not find it, we notified hospital staff, and no one really took it serious,” Kaleena said. “They kind of said maybe it got lost in the linens; it’ll turn up.”

She added that no incident report was filed at the time, despite repeated follow-ups.

Discovery

Several days later, once Sahara was well enough to use her phone, she checked the Find My app linked to her AirPods, which had been inside the purse. According to Kaleena, the app showed the AirPods located at a residence in Lemon Grove.

The family contacted the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, which sent a deputy to the address. Kaleena said no one answered the door, although a vehicle was present at the home.

With assistance from a landlord, the family obtained a lease agreement connected to the residence. Kaleena said law enforcement later determined that the woman associated with the address allegedly had multiple prior arrests related to theft and burglary.

Hospital Link

Kaleena said the family contacted the hospital after learning the name connected to the address.

“We called the hospital, and she does in fact work at the hospital where my sister is,” Kaleena said.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed any employment details. In a statement, UC San Diego Health cited privacy laws and ongoing investigations as reasons for limited comment.

“Privacy laws prevent us from commenting on whether any individual is or has been a patient at UC San Diego Health,” the statement read. “We also are unable to comment on matters that may involve personnel issues or ongoing investigations.”

The hospital added that it takes concerns about the safety and security of patients and visitors seriously.

Investigation

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the case has been referred to the San Diego Police Department for investigation. As of now, no arrests have been announced, and authorities have not released additional details.

Police are expected to determine whether the incident involved a hospital employee or another individual with access to patient areas.

Impact

Kaleena said the loss of the photographs of their late father has been especially difficult for her sister.

“I think that was one of the ways that she coped with the grief,” she said. “She would look at the pictures, hold them. She really misses her dad.”

She added that the experience has been deeply upsetting for the family.

“You think someone is safe; you think their belongings are safe when they are in a surgery,” Kaleena said. “We are not thinking about, ‘Is someone going to steal from us?’”

The family says their primary hope is that the sentimental items, particularly the photos, will be returned.

FAQs