Over the weekend, cancer patient Peggy Connolly got a visit she’d been hoping for, from a Clark County sheriff’s deputy: Her stolen flamingos had been found and came home to roost.
She learned that her 35 yard decorations had been found in a home near hers in Felida.
The deputy, after receiving a tip, visited the home where the flamingos were alleged to be and questioned a young man, who said his younger brother and some friends took them as a prank.
The older brother said the thieves, after hearing of news coverage about the theft by this newspaper and four major Portland TV stations, stashed the stolen flamingos in his family’s garage.
The siblings’ parents had been out of town because of a death in the family and plan to come home later this week, Connolly told The Columbian on Sunday.
The older brother gave the stolen lawn decorations to deputies, who dropped them off at Connolly’s home over the weekend, she said.
The whole thing was no laughing matter to Connolly, who received the flamingos from friends trying to cheer her up as she deals with her illness. She was diagnosed in December and is undergoing treatment and surgery.
The Oregon Zoo had lent Connolly a new flock last week, while she waited for information about the ones swiped from her yard Wednesday morning.
Now, Connolly’s birds have been brought home and she expressed thanks for their return.
The sheriff’s deputy plans to continue the investigation and inform Connolly of the results later this week, she said. No arrest had been reported as of Monday.
John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.
