Returning the Blüthner piano to the Washington Capitol was a proud moment for Ken Eschete. In 2017, the Spokane-based piano technician had worked to restore the historic instrument, which had lived in the State Reception Room for nearly three decades.

So, learning that someone had broken into the state Legislative Building earlier this month and damaged the piano was hard for Eschete to hear.

“It’s heartbreaking to anybody that’s associated with the restoration of an instrument,” he said. “We got kind of attached to it.”

The night of Oct. 5, a man broke into the domed state Capitol building and vandalized several significant artifacts. The suspect was arrested, and was released from jail with conditions the following day, but without bail.

Gunnar McLean Schubert, the 29-year-old suspec

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