I am so sorry that your family had to endure such a crappy situation. My husband and i just went through court dealing with our landlord and we totally @#$%ed him.I am currently taking law in university and i that you take the jerk to court. Charge him with theft, vandalisim, and improper missconduct. AND DON'T SIGN ANYTHING!!!!
As for the rent thing that was messed up because you didn't write it. When we gave our notice we wrote 2 copies and made the landlord sign both of them.
If you have any witnesses to anything make sure that you get them to appear in court or to write, sign, date, and leave contact info in a letter for you to take to court. He seems like a slum lord so play dirty. Think of every little thing that he has done wrong or was wrong with the suite.
And when he threw your stuff out i would not have given him the keys until he replaced the damged and missing things. That is his problem that he can't rent his place because he did the damage
If you take him to court make it so that he has to pay you for damages to property, replacing missing property and trauma to family.
Good Luck and make sure that you always do everything in writeing and before and after pictures in your new place. Nothing can stand against these in court. Also try to talk to other tenants in the building, see if they have any problems with the landlord because thier statements are admisable in court.
make him pay