Mill Creek police continue search for stolen statue

Staff report

youngstown

Mill Creek MetroParks Police still don’t know the fate of a bronze statue that was stolen from Fellows Riverside Gardens.

The Kneeling Girl Fountain was discovered missing late Wednesday afternoon from its perch over a pool in the Beeghly Family Garden, said Linda Kostka, developing and marketing director for Mill Creek MetroParks.

MetroParks Police Chief Jim Willock said Friday police are still investigating.

“We’re checking scrap yards and pawn brokers,” he said.

Willock said that who-ever took the statue of a kneeling 5-year-old girl knew what they were doing. There is a loading dock nearby the thief or thieves could have used, and a lock was broken on the garden gate, he said.

He said police assume the statue was stolen in the middle of the night.

“We’re not sure how long it’s been missing,” Kostka said.

Mill Creek MetroParks acquired the statue by Columbus sculptor Joan Wobst in 2001 for $12,500, Kostka said, adding that she does not know how much the sculpture weighs or how much it would be worth in today’s dollars.

“I hope we find it,” she said.

Willock said that anyone with information can call MetroParks Assistant Police Chief Bruce Emery at 330-744-3848.