Stolen Lincoln Statue Found in Pieces in Metairie

A unique silver statue of Abraham Lincoln, stolen from Houmas House plantation in Ascension Parish, has been recovered in Metairie, Louisiana. The artwork, created by Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum, was found cut into multiple pieces, seemingly for its metal value. This discovery follows a theft on September 7, when the statue was forcibly removed from the historic property.

The Theft from Houmas House

On Sunday, September 7, Kevin Kelly, the owner of Houmas House plantation, discovered the theft of his antique silver Abraham Lincoln statue. The foot-tall sculpture depicted Lincoln in a pensive pose, with his stovepipe hat beside him.

According to Kelly, the thief gained entry by smashing a window of the 19th-century building. A small stone dog statue, found outside, was used to break the glass. The burglar then reached through the broken window, grabbed the Lincoln statue, and fled the property.

Kelly speculated that if the thief was an art collector, the statue might never be seen again. However, if the intent was to sell the silver for its monetary value, there was a chance for its recovery. His assessment proved correct.

Recovery and Damage

Last week, the Lincoln statue was returned to Houmas House, but not in its original state. The artwork had been brutally cut into chunks, including a decapitated torso and other irregular shapes. The damage is beyond repair, making restoration impossible.

Sgt. Brandon Veal, spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, stated that investigators in Ascension Parish had alerted their department to be on the lookout for the stolen statue. This led to its discovery in several locations within suburban New Orleans.

Arrests Made in Connection

Jefferson Parish investigators identified Steve Coronado, 28, from Raceland, as a key individual. Coronado allegedly brought pieces of the statue to various pawn shops and a precious metal exchange for sale. At one shop, he reportedly sold silver shavings. At another, he received cash for a significant portion of the statue.

Deputies executed a search warrant at a residence on Garden Road in Avondale on September 10. During this search, they recovered another piece of the damaged artwork.

“We want to see stolen items returned to the owners,” said Beth Higgins, manager of Southern Coin and Precious Metal shop. “That’s not the game we want to play.”

Beth Higgins, manager of the Southern Coin and Precious Metal shop in Metairie, confirmed that someone sold the store a barely recognizable piece of the silver sculpture for $3,300. Higgins stated that the shop staff was already aware of the Lincoln statue theft and immediately contacted the Sheriff’s Department investigator to prevent the piece from being lost.

Coronado is currently held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. He faces charges of theft and three counts of possession of stolen property. His bail is set at $37,500.

Additionally, Alma Fontenot, 20, of New Iberia, and Bruce Shelvin, 49, of Avondale, were arrested by the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office. They face charges of simple burglary and felony theft over $25,000, as reported by The Advocate newspaper.

The Statue's Artistic and Historical Significance

The stolen Lincoln statue was more than just a valuable metal object. It was a significant piece of art created by John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum, the renowned sculptor behind Mount Rushmore. Borglum’s Mount Rushmore features monumental presidential portraits, including Abraham Lincoln, carved into a South Dakota mountainside.

According to Kevin Kelly, the silver miniature of Lincoln may have been intended as a gift. It could have been given to benefactors who supported a grand-scale Lincoln statue that Borglum envisioned but never completed. The exact number of identical silver castings produced by Borglum remains unknown, but the artifact is considered rare.

Historical Connections to Houmas House

Kevin Kelly, a businessman, purchased Houmas House in 2003. His goal was to transform the historic site into a luxury entertainment destination. The picturesque location has since been used for television shows like "Top Chef" and "The Bachelor."

Kelly found the silver Lincoln statue at an upscale garage sale on Audubon Boulevard in New Orleans. He purchased it for $1,200, recognizing it as a significant find. The statue’s presence at an 18th and 19th-century plantation, which historically relied on enslaved labor, might seem unexpected. However, it holds historical irony.

Kelly notes that Abraham Lincoln, as a teenager, traveled south on the Mississippi River in 1828 and 1831. During these journeys, he would have passed the Houmas House plantation. Lincoln and a partner steered a flatboat to Louisiana to sell goods, possibly bacon and corn, to riverside settlements. It was during these trips that Lincoln witnessed the system of slavery he would later work to abolish.

Somewhere along the route, Lincoln and his partner were attacked and injured by a roving gang. Kelly suggests that this brush with death for the future president may have occurred near a landing close to Houmas House.

Future of the Damaged Artwork

Eight pieces of the Lincoln statue have been returned to Kevin Kelly. Despite the irreparable damage, Kelly plans to create a small display of the ruined artwork. He believes the pieces now carry an even deeper historical resonance due to their journey. “There is no other choice,” he stated.

Following the theft, security measures at Houmas House have been increased to prevent similar incidents in the future. Reporter Michelle Hunter contributed to this story.