One suspect involved in the theft of a pair of black swans, a beloved pair known as Sterling and Luna, from the Highland Village Mobile Home Park in Lakeland, has surrendered to authorities this morning. Alfredo Casanova, 29, turned himself in to the Polk County Jail around 1:30 a.m., according to WFLA, facing charges of felony burglary and grand theft while his partner-in-crime, Jordan Montoya, 27, is still being sought by deputies.
The duo's alleged swan-snatching occurred last Wednesday night when they reportedly came onto the caregiver's property with nets and a bucket, and absconded with the swans and their eggs right from their nesting box, FOX 13 News reported; the animals were found earlier this week in Cutler Bay, a town in Miami-Dade County, and thankfully, by Tuesday, the swans were safely returned to their home pond.
As for the ongoing search, the Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) encourages anyone with information on Montoya's whereabouts to contact their detectives or submit tips via email at [email protected] and anonymously through Heartland Crime Stoppers, Daily Ridge informed readers.
