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Posted: June 3, 2009

Durham museum's dinosaur head located

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Brontosaurus

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Brontosaurus

Durham, N.C. — The head of a brontosaurus model from the Museum of Life and Science was located Wednesday, two days after nearby residents discovered the model had been vandalized.

Police said the head was found undamaged off Preston Andrews Road in northern Durham County. The culprits apparently used an ax to cut off the head, police said.

No charges have been filed in the case, which police said appeared to be a prank.

"I don't think it is in anybody's interest to pursue charges," said Julie Rigby, the museum's vice president for external relations.

Museum officials might push for the culprits to perform some "educational" community service, Rigby said.

The brontosaurus was part of the museum’s old Dinosaur Trail, which opened in 1967. The museum plans to open a new Dinosaur Trail sometime this summer.

On Monday, nearby residents found a portion of the model's neck on the ground and saw that the head was missing, officials said.

RELATED TOPICS: Durham County, Durham

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15 Comments


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Latest Comments
My 'kids' are now, 14 and 20, and they still talk about how much they love the Life and Science museum...how anyone can say that it's not important and that charges don't need to be pursued is beyond me! Heck, I remember that trail from when I was little and I'm almost 43 yrs old...the whole thing just breaks my heart...seems no one cares about history anymore!
rebekah816
June 3, 2009 6:29 p.m.
If they do not want to pursue charges (which I think they should), then the perpetrator(s) should have to pay have the dino reassembled
whoami
June 3, 2009 5:41 p.m.
I can't believe charges aren't being pressed. Vandalizing a landmark, beloved by many residents shouldn't be something you can just get away with. It is a slippery slope, whats next, it's ok to destroy public park facilities? I'm very very happy the head was recovered, and hope the statue can be conserved, but to just let the perps walk tells these kids that they can do what they want. How can the museum condone teaching them that life lesson?
britt2
June 3, 2009 4:55 p.m.
The Police know who did it.
smartsoutherngirl
June 3, 2009 4:45 p.m.
Pursuing penalties for vandalism damage would be ridiculous, given that these dinosaurs were in pretty bad shape to begin with. The museum has essentially abandoned that whole area; its overgrown and the dinos are showing years of weather damage.
htomc42
June 3, 2009 4:42 p.m.
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