Baby Jesus stolen from woman’s Nativity scene

The centerpiece of a woman’s lawn Nativity scene was stolen. She says her baby Jesus, manger and all, were taken. But, for her, these are so much more than just decorations.

Taking a drive down Hickory Lane in San Carlos Park in December, you’ll see decorations covering ears and lining the streets. Abby Rosman says if there were a “Christmas Decorations Club,” she’d be the president.

“Every year, we do this, and it’s our gift to each other for the holidays,” she said.

“My partner, Melly … she bought the home in ’86,” said Rosman. “When we met, and I moved in with her, and she got me into the spirit.”

But Rosman says she sometimes mixes up the decorations because she’s Jewish. “I hung the reindeer and the Santa Claus that’s over there now. But when she got home, she had a nice laugh because he (Santa) had been standing in the front instead of in the back. I said, ‘What do you expect? You know, I’m Jewish!'” Rosman said, laughing.

After everything Rosman has been through, this display had a much deeper meaning in 2021. “I lost my dad. June 1, very suddenly. And then my mom, she had dementia, and she passed away October 6, so that was really hard,” Rosman said. “And mom … she loved Christmas lights too. And so this is our pick me up for me in the family, for all of us.”

That’s the thing about her Christmas display, it’s not for her or about her, it’s about the people Rosman loves. So, what happened to the display this week broke her heart. “We’re both looking, and we’re like, ‘Where’s Baby Jesus?’ Jesus wasn’t there. And we just looked at each other. I’m like, ‘I know we had him out. Right?’ said Rosman. “She’s like, ‘Yeah,’ so we looked everywhere. We, you know, baby Jesus.”

Yes, baby Jesus was gone. But why would someone do something like that? “I have no idea. Stupid,” Rosman said.

“So, when someone takes baby Jesus, they take …,” she said. “They take a piece of my heart.”

Luckily, Rosman had another baby Jesus waiting in the wings. But, she does have a message to whoever to the original centerpiece to her Nativity scene.

“Santa is watching you. And karma. You should bring Jesus back,” said Rosman.

Rosman is hoping whoever stole her baby Jesus comes forward. She does forgive that person but she wants that piece of her heart returned.