Stolen Tortoise Statue Recovered

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) - A custom-made tortoise statue valued at $7,000 that was reported stolen from a Spearfish home earlier this month has been recovered.

The statue is a replica of Methuselah, a giant tortoise that died at Reptile Gardens in Rapid City last year at the age of 130. It was taken from the front porch of a private residence in Spearfish.

Police Chief Pat Rotert says the statue that weighed as much as 300 pounds was recovered when authorities responded to a party disturbance call in Lawrence County over the weekend.

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