Last Updated on January 7, 2023 by CCAR Staff
POMONA >> Eight months after a Pomona man was killed in what was thought to be a hit-and-run, his family hasn’t been able to afford to bury him.
Besides Joshua Aaron Pyle’s sudden death, the family has had to grapple with illness and financial struggles.
“We just weren’t prepared for something like that,” said Bob Wells, who raised Pyle since he was 8.
The 33-year-old father of two was found Sept. 21 in a Pomona alley in the 1500 block of Indian Hill Boulevard, the apparent victim of a fatal hit-and-run. He was flown to Los Angeles County General Hospital, according to a Pomona police statement. He died later that evening.
Authorities are still investigating Pyle’s death.
In early December, the Los Angeles County Coroner released Pyle’s body to Accord Cremation and Burial in Brea, where he has remained for the last five months.
Pyle’s mom, Karen Cresswell — Wells’ common law wife — has been sick, and the two are facing mounting medical bills for her and a disabled 5-year-old granddaughter. The Claremont couple says they just didn’t have the money for Pyle’s funeral.
One of Pyle’s long-time friends, Wendy Rubick, has come forward to help, organizing a car wash fundraiser planned for Saturday in Upland to help fund funeral expenses. Rubick also set up a GoFundMe account for Pyle.
“She is the real hero in all of this,” said Wells.
Initially, Cresswell and Wells turned to the California Victim Compensation program for help with the funeral expenses but learned the group would reimburse the family if they qualified — which means “they’d still have to pay for it up front,” Rubick said.
Rubick is now looking for volunteers to help with Saturday’s fundraiser.
“This has been a terribly hard thing to go through,” said Cresswell. “I don’t know who would do this to him. He never had any enemies. He was such an amazing person, and I miss him so much. I would like for people to remember him as the person you could call and he would be there for them.”
Pyle was a mischievous boy growing up who loved soccer and had a passion for helping anyone or anything in need.
“As a kid, he used to spend his time volunteering at animal rescues,” said Pyle’s mother, Karen Cresswell. “He loved to see these little animals come in hurt and get better after a few days.”
The car wash will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Upland Peace Church, 379 N. Campus Ave. Volunteers can sign up to help at the church on the second floor.
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