SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — “We didn’t realize just how beloved she was until this happened on social media,” members of the Horner family say on their front porch Friday morning.
Less than 24 hours ago, they didn’t know if they’d ever see a statue that’s occupied John and Pat Horner’s private land-turned-public park again.
The statue, titled ‘Summer Dancer’ was inspired by a real girl named Becca, but with the value in the tens of thousands, it was stolen Wednesday morning.
“We thought either they were really professional, like they would sell it in the black market or just melt it,” the Horner family said.
The assumptions were made given the statue was made of 95% copper.
Those assumptions were only half right.
The family got a call that a worker at CMC Recycling recognized one of the pieces that had been cut from the statue.
“I said, Well, ‘how did you stall this guy?’ and they said, they were trying to come up with the money or something and they were gonna make the process and go through the paperwork and things like that, so they just kind of stalled them,” John Horner said.
Horner says the business would have given the culprits around $40 for whatever they brought in that day.
“[Police told us] there was like two men that were involved, and they said that there was a possible third one. One of the main reasons they couldn’t make the arrests [at the time] is because they weren’t sure that was the guy that took it. He was just the one that showed officers,” members of the family said.
They called the police and SPD recovered the statue, which had been cut into four parts and it was returned to the Horners this morning.
Springfield Police says the theft remains an active investigation and a case would be presented to the prosecutor’s office before any charges can be filed.
However, the artist of the statue, Rosalind Cook, says whoever made the cuts, accidentally helped the Horner family out.
“They cut, unknowingly at a very good place, because it’s not on an intricate, complicated area of the sculptures, just straight cuts on legs, those can easily be welded back together,” Cook said. “After it’s welded together, the metal chasers will have to take down all the weld lines, smooth out the skin, repair any damage, like if the sculpture has been scratched or any damage. They sandblast it and they begin a whole new process of the patina, which is the chemical coloration of the bronze in in typically.”
Cook says with her connections to the foundry in Colorado, ‘Summer Dancer’ could be back in Springfield in as early as a month.
“It depends on the foundry schedule and it depends if they will take this as a an emergency, which they will. I’ve done so much business with them over the years, I think they’ll just slip it down into the metal schedule,” Cook said. “I’m hoping if as soon as we can get the piece, that they can begin to repair it. We will see that it has a proper base and proper installation so that this can’t happen again.”
The family says they’re looking into installing security cameras as well as bolting the statue into the ground.
“We’re looking into that and we’ve got some security people coming by to look at it and assess it and see what can be done. It’s a possibility,” John Horner said.
The Horner family and Cook say they’re full of gratitude this week for the community stepping up to help recover the statue.
“Everybody’s been very supportive, and the outpouring has just been amazing. We’re gathered as a family because it was kind of like she was a part of our family,” the family said. “We didn’t realize just how beloved she was until this [blew up] on social media. I mean, it was unreal and overwhelming, the encouragement. People had a real connection.”
“I know that John loved that piece because of the spirit it projected,” Cook said. “I was so surprised at how valued this piece is, not just to the Horners but to the city, that Springfield really celebrates its art, its parks, the things that are public that the public gets to enjoy. It gives me a sweet feeling about Springfield.”
The Horner family tells OzarksFirst that a reward was given to those who notified the police.
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