Tortoise Statue Taken From SD Home Recovered

A custom-made tortoise statue valued at $7,000 that was reported stolen from a Spearfish home earlier this month has been recovered.

The statue is a replica of Methuselah, a giant tortoise that died at Reptile Gardens in Rapid City last year at the age of 130. It was taken from the front porch of a private residence in Spearfish.

Police Chief Pat Rotert says the statue that weighed as much as 300 pounds was recovered when authorities responded to a party disturbance call in Lawrence County over the weekend.