Three people have been arrested for allegedly stealing a solid silver statue of President Abraham Lincoln, historically valued at $166,000, from Houmas House and Gardens.

Steve Coronado, 28, of Raceland, Alma Fontenot, 20, of New Iberia, and Bruce Shelvin, 49, of Avondale were each arrested on counts of simple burglary and felony theft over $25,000.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office said that the three culprits broke a window overnight Saturday to forcibly enter the plantation home in Darrow. The statue was located within arm's reach of the window.

The trio allegedly cut the statue into several pieces before selling them at a pawn shop and at a gold and silver shop located in Metairie.

The 64-pound statue had an estimated historic value of $166,000 and was originally sculpted by Gu

See Full Page