university of illinois football linebackers theft

U Of I Linebackers Allegedly Stole A Deer Statue Then Proudly Displayed It On Their Roof
7 years ago

university of illinois football linebackers theft

You’ve either done it yourself or you at least know somebody who has stolen public property to keep as their own personal trophy. Even though the act is technically illegal, the police never usually seem to get involved because they’ve got bigger fish to fry than the snot-nosed kid who stole the town’s 420 mile marker.

For two Illinois football players, linebackers James Marchese and Drew Murtaugh, though, the Champaign Park District’s case of the missing deer statue “Startled” was apparently big enough to get them arrested and charged with theft.

From The News-Gazette:

The Champaign Park District noticed the theft of the sculpture from its base not long after it went missing and went to Facebook pleading for its return.

On May 5, Champaign police received a tip that it was on the roof of the apartment complex where the two men lived, just across the street from the park to the west.

Officers went there that day and spoke to several residents, including Marchese and Murtaugh.

Marchese told police that he and Murtaugh were walking home April 29 when they saw the statue lying on the ground and took it to the roof of their building. Murtaugh gave the same basic statement, according to a police report.

Boldly displaying stolen public property for everyone to see. Classic.

It’s rare to see college students take, much less display, public property other than your run-of-the-mill street sign theft. From the sound of it, though James and Drew were clearly just giving the deer a safe place to stay until it could be repaired and returned to its rightful owners, right? They were simply borrowing it, methinks.

Both were charged with a single count of theft, carrying a $500 to $10,000 fine. They could also face probation or two to five years in prison. I, as a twisted individual, hope there’s prison time involved just so they’ll have to answer a hardened inmate’s question.

“So, why are you in here?”

“Um, we stole a fucking fake deer. You?”

“Murder. You want a tattoo?”

[via The News Gazette]

Image via Shutterstock