BECKLEY, W.Va. — A prominent bronze statue stolen from the Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley has been recovered and returned to its rightful place.
On Monday, Feb. 26, Tamarack reported the theft of their Mountaineer statue which was created by West Virginia artist Burl Jones. The statue symbolizes the state’s “rugged spirit and heritage.”
West Virginia State Police Troop 7 and Tamarack’s on-site security team worked together to locate the stole statue a few days later. On Thursday, February 29, troopers found the statue to be in mint condition.
Troopers arrested Billy Paul Brown, 53, of Pax. He’s been charged with one count of grand larceny.
“We are delighted to announce the safe recovery of the stolen Mountaineer statue,” said Tammy Coffman, executive director at Tamarack Marketplace. “The collaborative efforts between our on-site security team and the West Virginia State Troopers have demonstrated the effectiveness of proactive and cooperative measures in safeguarding our cultural assets.”
“This collaborative achievement reinforces the importance of community engagement and cooperation in maintaining the security and integrity of our shared cultural treasures, added Troop 7 Captain J. S. McCarty. “From the very beginning of the investigation, the Troopers assigned made it their mission to bring the Mountaineer Statue back home.”