Overview

• The bronze statue, installed in 2020 after the original wooden version was destroyed by arson, was sawed off at the ankles and stolen from a private field near Sevnica, Slovenia.
• Slovenian authorities launched an investigation immediately after the theft was reported on May 13, though no suspects or motives have been identified so far.
• The statue, created by American artist Brad Downey, was described as an 'anti-monument' and had been anchored with concrete and metal bars for durability.
• The original wooden statue, carved by Slovenian artist Ales Zupevc, was set on fire in 2020 and later displayed in a museum after being badly burned.
• The theft highlights ongoing local ambivalence toward the statues, with some residents expressing disdain for the abstract depictions of the former First Lady.