Amelia Earhart Statue Recovery Didn't Bring Reward, Only Suspicion

For Elaine Traverse, it appeared to be a stroke of luck that could resolve her financial difficulties. While her dog was taking a bathroom break, she stumbled upon something unexpected. As Traverse recounted, her dog's sudden sprint into a secluded area near Heart's Content, Newfoundland, Canada, prompted her to investigate.

Being unable to walk long distances due to a disability, Traverse called her son for assistance in examining what had agitated her dog. What they discovered was what remained of a statue of Amelia Earhart – or at least, the dismembered pieces of the monument that had been prominently displayed in the nearby town of Harbour Grace for months.

"Oh my God," Traverse recalled thinking.

The statue commemorated the famed pilot's historic solo transatlantic flight in 1932, which originated from Harbour Grace. The bronze figure, a fixture in a Harbour Grace park since 2007, was funded by a donation from a local family. Its disappearance months prior had sparked concern and a $25,000 reward for its recovery, as officials suspected it was stolen for scrap metal.

In August, Traverse, facing financial strain, found the statue several miles from Harbour Grace. She immediately contacted the authorities, hoping to claim the reward. "I called the mayor at that time, and I said, 'I was wondering if the reward was still being offered,'" Traverse told CNN.

While the reward was still available, Traverse said the mayor turned down her offer to personally return the statue's components. Days later, an investigator from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) contacted her, making it clear that a quick payout was unlikely. "First thing she said was, 'Do you want to speak to a lawyer? Because you could be arrested for this,'" Traverse stated, expressing her shock at the suggestion.

The statue was located in the Spirit of Harbour Grace Park, alongside a retired World War II-era DC-3 passenger plane named after the town. The park serves as a reminder of the community’s unique place in aviation history, as Harbour Grace was the starting point for 20 transatlantic flights.

The statue's disappearance was met with dismay by locals and aviation enthusiasts globally. The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots, expressed their dismay in a Facebook post, questioning who would commit such an act.

Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed a vehicle pulling up to the statue's location, followed by sounds of screeching tires and a metallic crash. The vehicle then sped away. The footage was too dark to identify individuals, although muffled voices were audible.

The statue's recovery brought relief to Harbour Grace officials, who had been unsure if they could afford a replacement. Former Mayor Don Coombs expressed his gratitude in a news release, thanking the public for their assistance in locating the statue.

Yet, Traverse's role has gone unacknowledged in official announcements. She says she was advised to leave the statue untouched and wait for law enforcement. She visited the site twice daily to ensure its safety. "So, when I got the call on August 8 to go to the RCMP building – yes, I had a big relief when the officers took her," she said.

That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. her relief was short-lived, as suspicion quickly turned towards her. Traverse believes her son's past conviction for copper theft contributed to the suspicion, despite his denial of any involvement. He also declined to be interviewed.

"But he had nothing to do with (the statue’s disappearance). He’s innocent, and I’m innocent," Traverse asserted.

Traverse added that both she and her son passed lie detector tests, further supporting their innocence. She also noted that her son was incarcerated at the time of the theft. The presence of thick vegetation around the statue further suggests that it had not been recently placed there.

The RCMP and the town of Harbour Grace have declined to comment on Traverse's account. An RCMP spokesperson cited the ongoing investigation and privacy concerns as reasons for their silence.

In the months since the statue's retrieval, Harbour Grace has celebrated its return. A local artist is currently working to restore the statue, with a rededication ceremony planned for next spring. Restoration costs are covered by the town's insurer.

Despite her role in the recovery, Traverse has not received the reward. Instead, she faces community rumors and a tarnished reputation. "A lot of people are blaming me for stuff that I’m not doing… and it’s not right," she lamented.

The investigation into the statue's theft remains open, with authorities providing few details. Councilor Christina Hearn stated that donors expected the reward to lead to an arrest or conviction. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. Traverse points to the original reward announcement, which offered the reward for either an arrest or the statue's return.

Like the mystery surrounding Earhart's final flight, Traverse's situation remains unresolved, awaiting further developments and the potential identification of those responsible for the theft.