Family heartbroken after thieves steal statue of boy who drowned
A public appeal has been launched by police to find a memorial statue, depicting a young boy who drowned in a Queensland dam, after it was recently stolen.
It is believed the statue portraying six-year-old Jared Bannah was taken by thieves from the park on Byrnes Parade at Mount Morgan dam, near Rockhampton, sometime between November 30, 2018 and December 2.
Jared lost his life in 2015 and the memorial was erected that year.
It was paid for by a member of the public for the family of the boy, police said.
“The family and the community need answers and a resolution to an already set of tragic circumstances of events,” Officer in charge of Mount Morgan station Sergeant Ricky Zimitat said.
“Nearly three years after the death of their son, the Bannah family have now had to endure the heartache of Jared’s statue being removed,” he said.
The sculpture is a resin cast of a child who is sitting cross legged and holding a mason jar.
It is painted bronze, weighs about 20 kilograms and stands about one metre tall.
“The safe recovery of this memorial remains paramount so if the people who took it have a conscience and want to advise authorities where it can be found they can do so anonymously by contacting Policelink or Crime Stoppers,” Sergeant Zimitat said.
Initial information suggests the sculpture was last seen on the evening November 30.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444, and information about a crime can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
