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Jim Morrison's Stolen Bust Recovered After 37 Years

The marble sculpture, taken from Morrison's grave in 1988, was found during an unrelated fraud investigation in Paris, leaving questions about its return unanswered.

FRANCE - JUNE 01:  The tomb of Jim Morrison in Paris, France in June, 1985.  (Photo by Laurent MAOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
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FILE- This Sept. 7, 1971 file photo shows the grave of Jim Morrison, lead singer of the rock group "The Doors," at the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Joe Marquette,File)
Torsten Marquardt of Germany pours some whiskey on the tomb of rock singer Jim Morrison at the Pere-Lachaise cemetery in Paris in 2021. Fans across Europe gathered at the grave of rock legend Jim Morrison to mark the 50th anniversary of his death.

Overview

  • The white marble bust, created by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin in 1981 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Jim Morrison's death, was stolen in 1988 from Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris.
  • French police discovered the bust by chance during a search tied to a fraud investigation, with no suspects identified in the decades-old theft.
  • The sculpture, weighing approximately 128 kg, remains intact aside from pre-existing damage, including graffiti and a broken nose.
  • Authorities have not yet decided if or when the bust will be returned to Morrison's grave, which remains a major site of pilgrimage for fans.
  • The discovery resolves the mystery of the bust's whereabouts but leaves unanswered questions about the motives and individuals behind its original theft.