Jackie Robinson statue stolen from Kansas park found burned in trash can: ‘Heartbreaking discovery’

Charred remnants of a stolen Jackie Robinson bronze statue were found Tuesday inside a trash can at a Kansas park, authorities said.

Pieces of the statue were dumped in the garbage and lit on fire at Garvey Park in Wichita, a police spokesperson said during a press conference streamed by KWCH.

Fire crews were called to the scene around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday and made the discovery after putting out the trash can flames.

“This was a heartbreaking discovery this morning,” Wichita Councilman Brandon Johnson said during the press conference. “I hate to see that the statue was not in one piece, but I do want everyone to know that we are undeterred in making sure that that statue gets rebuilt and put back there.”

Most of the statue vanished last Thursday night after it was cut by the ankles at the League 42 baseball fields in McAdams Park, which is also home to the Jackie Robinson Pavilion.

The prized figure honors Major League Baseball’s first player to smash the color barrier in 1947 when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

No arrests have been made.

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said the burning of the statue is a direct response to the pressure investigators are putting on the thieves.

Over 100 interviews have been conducted and police are collecting various doorbell footage.

“So for those of who are in any way involved in this … it is only a matter of time and it would be in your best interest to simply turn yourself in, come forward, admit your part in this … but either way we will be arresting several people for what they’ve done to our community,” Sullivan said.

Surveillance footage showed at least two people pull down the statue and load it into a silver pick-up truck.

Before Tuesday’s upsetting find, officials offered the thieves a chance to return the statue “no questions asked.”

Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962 – the first black player to punch his ticket to Cooperstown. The speedy infielder, who boasted a .313 MLB career batting average, began his career with the Kansas City Monarchs as part of the Negro Leagues before signing with Brooklyn.

Each year, MLB honors the civil rights icon when every player wears Robinson’s jersey number – 42.

Funds are being raised by League 42, named after Robinson, to replace the sculpture, the non-profit’s executive director Bob Lutz said. So far, nearly $80,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe page.

Lutz said after a week of sorrow, the community is “ready for some joy.”