Seattle's University District is grappling with the loss of a cherished piece of its cultural tapestry after the theft of the Sadako Sasaki statue from Peace Park, the Seattle Police Department is seeking the public's help to crack the case. The life-size bronze statue, a commemoration to the young Hiroshima survivor Sadako Sasaki, went missing on July 12th, confirmed by police responding to a call at 11:30 a.m.
No suspects have been named in this lamentable incident and the search for leads is ongoing as the situation leaves a void in the heart of Peace Park where the statue once stood. Valued at roughly $25,000 by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, the stolen statue not only carries a weight in dollars, but it encapsulates a part of history, a stark reminder of the young girl's fight against radiation sickness which she succumbed to at the age of 12, her story has inspired many and the theft has thus left a palpable sense of loss.
Detectives from the General Investigations Unit are diligently piecing together the scant evidence in pursuit of restitution and justice, but the success of their endeavor may very well hinge on community involvement. The Seattle police are urging anyone armed with information about the statue's whereabouts or details of its theft to come forward.
A call to action has been issued to the residents of Seattle: anyone with knowledge of the statue's current location or the identity of the perpetrator(s) should promptly contact law enforcement officials by dialing 911 for immediate assistance or the non-emergency line at (206) 625-5011, in hopes that the commemorative bronze can be restored to its rightful place, and piece by piece, the story of Sadako and the spirit of peace she symbolizes, can continue to flourish in the University District.
