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Feb 6, 2008 5:56 pm US/Central
No 'Jailhouse Rock' After Elvis Painting Returned
STILLWATER, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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The painting was turned into the sheriff's office after WCCO-TV aired a story about the alleged theft. (File)
AP
A painting of Elvis Presley
that went missing last week has been recovered, and the Washington County
Sheriff's Department said there will be no strains of "Jailhouse Rock"
in the incident's aftermath.
The $15,000 painting was thought stolen from 30th Street North in West Lakeland
Township sometime between
8:30 and 11:30 p.m. last Wednesday. Its owner, Jon Kittelsen, had placed it at
the bottom of his driveway to attract attention for a business meeting.
"I was bummed. I was
clearly bummed out," Kittelsen said about losing the painting. "Being an Elvis fan, I guess I was a
little shook up."
The painting was turned into the sheriff's office after WCCO-TV aired a story
about the alleged theft.
Someone had allegedly thought the painting belonged with the other recyclables
at the end of the driveway. He then delivered it to his Elvis-fan sister, who
then recognized the artwork in the broadcasted news story.
Perhaps singing "I Feel So Bad," she immediately arranged for the
painting to be "Returned To Sender."
Tuesday
night, the Kittelsens got the call they were waiting for from the Washington
County Sheriff's Office, telling them the painting was recovered. Wednesday morning, they picked it up.
"There it is! There it
is," exclaimed Heather Kittelsen, when she saw the deputy bring it out to
the lobby.
The
painting was not damaged.
"It's perfect! It's in
perfect shape," Heather Kittelsen said.
The Kittelsens also told the deputy that they want
to thank the woman who gave back the painting and maybe get her a print of
it.
"It's just terrific that she found it in her heart to return
it," said Jon Kittelsen.
The
painting is going back home, up on a wall, and will never again stand at the
end of the driveway.
The
Kittelsens knew the late Twin Cities artist Peter Bue, who is commonly known at
Fucci.
They
were friends and the Kittelsens have collected the artist's work.
The
Washington County Sheriff's Office, whose press release
supplied many of this story's groan-worthy puns that might have readers begging
"A Little Less Conversation," said no charges are being filed.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
